J 




Qass ESU 

Book tvC?3 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRI CULTURE^ 

FLORIDA. ^^ 

A fPAMPHLET DESCRIPTIVE 



OF ITS 



History, Topography, Climate, Soil, 

RESOURCES AND NATURAL ADVANTAGES, 
IN GENERAL AND BY COUNTIES. 



Prepared in the Interest of Immigration 



BY THE 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
B. E. McLiN, Commissioner. 



I. K. Hilson. State Printer, 
iailahassee, FI«. 

1904. 



15 NOV 1905 
D.otO, 







sS 
Q 

X 

-^ 
72 

JO 



PREFACE. 



Under a provision of the constitution of 1885, ■estab- 
lishing a Department of Agriculture of the State of Flor- 
ida, the Legislature of 1889 passed an act setting in mo- 
tion the work of the Department, and authorizing the 
Commissioner of Agriculture to publish a Hand Book of 
the State, setting forth her resources and advantages as a 
home for those, who for divers reasons either wish to, 
or must have a change in habitation, business pursuits, 
or who come onh- on pleasure bent. 

The Commissioner of Agriculture was unable earlier to 
complay with this requirement for the lack of sufficient 
funds, till the Legislature of 1901, passed an act appro- 
priating money for the purpose. 

In providing material for this work, the llepartment 
consulted the Boards of County Commissioners of each 
county, as also many of the best informed persons in the 
several counties." To the requests for information de- 
S'criptive of the various resources of each county, twenty- 
seven counties responded either directly oi' through a 
recognized representative; the work on the remaining 
eighteen counties from data in this office, and the ex- 
perience and knowledge of the writer concerning them. 

While much the greater part of the material used in 
this work is entirely new, we are frank to say that we 
have used with a free hand, the ideas of our predecessors, 
and other publications, ])ertinent to the subjv'^cts dis- 
cussed, and specially with reference to the brief histori- 
cal sketch with which the work opens. 

It was deemed important in the scoj)e and preparation 
of this Hand Book to give, with considerable detail, the 



principal events of history, as well as a description of 
the population, including some of its numerous charac- 
teristics, an account of the public institution, State gov- 
ernment, its educational establishment, and others. 

A general account is also given of the Agricultural, 
Horticultural, Pomological, and stock raising possibili- 
ties of our State, and a complete census of all products 
for 1J>02, and the census of population of 1900. We do 
not think *we are assuming too much when we claim for 
our State a position second to no other in the Union, 
along the lines indicated. 

In variety and salubrity of climate, in general pro- 
ductiveness of her soils, in the inestimable blessing of a 
healthful and never failing water supply, in both rail 
and water facilities of transportation, in educational ad- 
vantages, in the moral tone of her people, and the almost 
unbroken good order of society, no State of our day and 
generation can more justly claim a happier condition or 
a higher civilization. 

We tender our special thanks to all those who have so 
ably assisted us in furnishing material for this work, 
and we send forth this Hand Book with the hope that it 
will be the means of bringing benefit to the State, and 
receive the' approval of those most interested — the peo- 
ple of Florida. 



PART I. 

Historical. 



Ou March 2", 1512, Florida was discovered by Juan 
Ponce De Leon, a Spanisli soldier and adventurer, who 
having heard fabulous stories of a new land of gold, de- 
termined to find and appro])riate it; he landed near where 
St. Augustine now stands; the day being Easter Sun- 
day (the Pascua Florida or feast of Flowers of the 
Eoman Catholic Church), the name Florida was given to 
the country by its discoverer, and the name was after- 
ward bestoweu upon a region indefinite in extent, covering 
a much larger territory than the present State includes. 
Marvelous tales of gold to be obtaiiK^d, were told him, 
and also of the existence of a spviiiu, whose magic waters 
would bestow upon all mankind, elernal youth; in quest 
of the latter even more than gold, lie S])ent a long and 
weary p'eriod in fruitless search, wliich he at last aban- 
doned and sailed for home: Four years later bound upon 
the same errand, he again set sail for Florida in search of 
gold and the fabled fountain, but lliis time lie met with 
powerful resistance from the natives, and after being 
dangerously wounded by an arrow lie took his departure, 
after havin-.? taken possession of the country in the name 
of the king of Spain. 

In the mean time Diego de Mirullo had also discovered 
the country, and sailing along the coast traded with the 
natives obtaining in return for his Avares a small amount 
of gold. 

In 1.517, the peninsula of Florida was again visited by 
civilized man, this time by Fernandez de Cordova, who 
landed on the east coast; his expedition amounted to 
nothing and he was driven off by the inhabitants. 

Six years later on the ITIh of June. 1.527, the first at- 
tempt at concfuest was made by Pamphilo de Narvaez. 
who came direct from Si>aiii. and aiu-hored in what 's 
known as Clear Water Harbor April 1-tth, 1.52S. and 



lauded Ui) lucu and 80 lioi-.scs. He obtained from Charles 
Y. wlio tbeu ruled over Spaiu a jirant of all the lands 
from Cape Florida to the river Teuiico. He attempted a 
march iiortluvard, but was forced to fight his way un- 
ceasingly, and after untold hardships, finally reached the 
coaist again near the present St. ^Marks ; he constructed u 
few boats aud rafts, having slaughtered his horses, and 
put to sea, where he with most of his troops perished by 
shipwreck near the Penuco river. 

In 1531), Fernando de Soto, landed at the present site 
of Tampa on Tampa Bay, with about 1,000 men and 350 
horses, and one cannon ; he marched over much of the 
interior of Florida and finally spent the winter near Tal- 
lahassee on what is known as Fort San Louis hill; he 
met with greater success than any of his predecessors, 
and in the spring of 1540. went northward out of Flor- 
ida, and thence west to the Mississippi river where he 
died in 1542; his army then going to pieces a small rem- 
nant succeeded in reaching ^Mexico, the rest perished; his 
vessels had however discovered Pensacola Harbor, and 
the re]>ort of its great value and beauty, led Don Tristan 
de Luna to form a settlement there on August J I, 1550. 
Although his army nund)ered some 1500 men the natives 
fought him so \igorously and determinedly that he 
abandoned the settlement ; after this, division of opinion 
and factioiusi confiicts so moved the Spanish island 
colonies that they let Florida alone till 1502. 

In 1502. a French expedition under Captain Jean 
Ribault, discovered the St. Johns River, and built a fort 
on a bluff near the nmuth. As soon as he left the colo- 
nists, however, they began to rob the natives, and they 
were soon on the ])oint of starvation — planting no oorn 
themselves and the Indians refusing to feed them. An 
English fleet of four vessels. und(»r Cajitaiu John Haw- 
kins, su])])licd them with ])rovisions. and so the St. Johns 
became known throughout Europe. 

In the same year 1562, Admiral de Coligny, a French- 
man, desiring to rescue his Huguenot followers from the 
cruel persecutions to which they were subjected in 
France, made preparations to send them to Anu^rica, and 
in the winter of 1503-04, a company of them under Laud- 
onniere was landed on the coast below what is now St. 
Augustine. Heiv they established themselves on their 



new territory. A\heii, early in 1565, the Spanish Don 
Pedro Meueudez pounced upon them, killed nearly the 
whole of them, and hanged them on the trees in th-a vicin- 
ity, with an inscription over their heads, that they wore 
killed ''not as Frenchmen, but as heretics and enemies of 
God." Leaving a garrison there, Mendeuez prooe^^ded lo 
what is now the site of St. Augustine, and there started 
the first permanent settlement of the peninsula. 

In 1580, it was captured by Sir Francis Drake, but was 
afterwards restored to the Spaniards. In 1600, Pensacola 
was settled by Spaniards. In 1763 Florida was ceded by 
Spain to Great Britain in exchange for the Qaeeai of the 
Antilles.-' 

The Spanish King claimed all Florida, and bitterly 
complained to the French and English courts of the in- 
trusion of their subjects. But for a long time the Span- 
iards were compelled to fight the Indians as well as resist 
attacks from the colonists in Carolina and Georgia, so 
that they fortified St. Augustine by building the strong 
fort of San Marco. The French also captured Pensacola 
in 1719, but it was almost immediately retaken by Gov- 
ernor Mtetamoras, and was again taken by the French. 
When peace was made, in 1722, the city was restored to 
the Spaniards, who now rebuilt it on Santa Rosa Island, 
near the spot where Fort Pickens now stands. 

But the English continued their desultory war on the^ 
Spaniards In Florida. In 1710 General Ogletlvorpe of 
Georgia, reinforced by a Carolina regiment, beseiged St. 
Augustine, but failed to take it. and in 1712 a Spanish 
fleet of thirty-six sail, under Governor Monteano. entered 
the harbor of St. Simons, in Georgia, and drove Governor 
Oglethorpe from his temporary works. Governor Mon- 
teano followed and attacked him at Frederica, but was 
scared away by a decoy letter and the sudden ai)i)earance 
of three vessels off the coast, hoing; led to believe that 
they were the advance guard of an English fleet, he 
hurried back to St. Augustine. And in 174.'> Oglethorpe 
made a sudden descent upon St. Augustine. caj)tured a 
few Spaniards, and sailed away in his turn. These at- 
tacks, however, produced no lasting effects, and many 
of less note are entirely disregarded. 

But in 1750 di.s.sentions arose in the Creek Confederacy, 
which then occupied those portions of Alabama and Geor- 



8 

gia immediateh- north of the present boundary of Flor- 
ida. In consequence of these the Chief Secoffee separated 
from the parent tribe and settled in what is now Alachua 
County. Through these the Florida Indians became en- 
gaged in hostilities with the Creeks, and the results were 
important when the Seminole war broke out. For 
Secoffee's followers were called Seminoles, or refugees, 
and gradually the name was extended to all the Indians 
of Florida because they made common cause with their 
guests, although these were intruders forced upon the 
weakened remnant left after a century of war with their 
European invaders. 

In 1763 by treaty Spain ceded to Great Britain East 
and West Florida in exchange for Havana and the west 
part of Cuba, then held by the English. By proclamation 
the King of Great Britain divided Florida into East 
Florida, extending to the Apalachicola River, and West 
Florida to the Mississippi River and north to latitude 31 
degrees. General James Grant was the first English 
Governor of East Florida. In tlie same year Pensacoki 
was first laid out as a city, with streets at right angles, 
making the squares 400x200 feet. 

In I'Ji'u: Dennis Rolle obtained a grant of 40.000 acres 
on the east side of the St. Johns, just south of the present 
site o'J l*a]atka. and founded Rollestown by bringing Eng- 
lish colonists. The same year the English built the 
King's Road from Fort Barrington to St. Angustine— 
the post being subscribed bv the ])ublic-iS^irited men in 
Florida. 

In 1707 some ],.jOO Greeks, Italians, and Minorcans in- 
dentured t(» work for a company organized in London, 
were brought to New Smyrna, on the east coast, by Sir 
William Duncan and Dr. Andrew Turnbull. They were 
treated harshly and suffered many hardships, liually 
breaking tlieir indentures and removing to St. Augustine 
in 177'). And in the same year the Governor of East 
Florida i-ailed out his militia to join the royal troo])s in 
resisting ''the ]"!erfidious insinuations" of the neighboring 
colonies. 

In 1778. i]io British General Prevost marched from 
Florida upoi Savannah and other towns of Georgia, and 
captured them. The citizens of the Southern States were 



li 

greatly annoved by frequent incursions and raids from 
Florida. 

In 1781 Colonel Patrick Tonyn, (lovernor of East Flor- 
ida, called a General Assembly, which met at St. Augus- 
tine, March 17, but was in no way memorable. While it 
was in session, Don Bernardo Galvez, with a naval force 
under Admiral Solana, sailed from Havana and invested 
Pensacola, then garrisoned by 1,000 English under Gen- 
eral Campbell, blew up Fort Barrancas and restored that 
city to the Spanish flag. 

The country west of Pensacola was then ceded back to 
Spain by Great Britain. During all these changes it is 
interesting to notice how the neighboring islands narrow- 
ly escaped the final fate of the mainland. For besides 
the close connection generally maintained between Flor- 
ida and the Spanish islands, it was in 1783 that Colonel 
Devereux sailed from St. Augustine, and, with only fifty 
men, captured the Bahamas and annexed them to the 
British crown, although in the same year England ceded 
East and West Florida again to Spain, agreeing to 
evacHiate the country in three months. In the following 
year (1781) Governor Zespedez took possession of all 
Florida in the name of the King of Spain, He built a 
fort at Jacksonville to guard the ferry on the Kings Koad, 
as well as to open the line of communication between St. 
Augustine and Pensacola. 

The building of this fort gave considerable importance 
to Jacksonville as a principal outpost, and owing to that 
fact it was selected as the main point of attack by General 
Mcintosh, who, marching down from Georgia, captured 
the fort built by (Jovernor Zespedez, destroyed it, and also 
burned a number of Spanish galleys which were anchored 
in the river; this was in 1794. 

But now the ])owerful tribe of Creek Indians under 
their chief, Alexander McGillivray, became a factor in 
the history of Florida, formed an alliance, offensive and 
defensive with Spain, and checked the tide of immigra- 
tion that had begun to push into Southern Georgia and 
Florida. He prepared the Creeks and Florida Indians 
to act together and laid the foundation for Ihat co-oi)fra- 
tion which bore such fruits under Osceola. 

But now again a part of Florida changed flags, for in 
1795 Spain re-ceded to Frame all the counti-y claimed 



10 

by her west of the Perdido River, which thei-eafter be- 
oaiiie the boimdary of Florida. Spaiu made no attempt 
to settle her portion, but granted monopolies to various 
merchants in Pensacola, who traded with the Indians 
for peltries and preserved a good understanding through 
the influence of the Creek chiefs. In 1808 a band of 
Creeks settled in Leon County, and their principal town 
was near the old i^apital of Anhayea. where De Soto spent 
the winter of 15ol)-40, and their chief, Nehamathla, gave 
the name of Tallahassee to the capital of the State. So 
that practically our capital city has been the site of two 
ancient towns. 

When Louisiana was ceded to the United States in 
1803. the terms of the treaty gave our government a claim 
to the lands lying west of the Perdido River, then known 
as* a part of West Florida. 

January 15, 1811. Congress authorized the President to 
seize West Florida if any foi'eign jx^wer attempted to oc- 
cu]>v it. so that tlie spirit of the Monroe doctrine was 
already abroad in the land. But the Georgians were only 
too anxious to cross the border, aud in 1812 a number of 
settlers along the northern boundary organized a Provis- 
ional Government, elected John H. Mcintosh Governor^ 
and Colonel Ashley general, and avowed their determina- 
tion to hold out against all comers. Fernandina was at 
this time a neutral town, where all the elements met to 
trade, but the Spaniards grew uneasy and garrisoned it, 
]>lacing Don Jose Lopez in command. This was too much 
for "Governor" Mcintosh, who immediately beseiged aud 
took it, March 12, 1812. 

In the same year the monun)ent in the plaza at St. Au- 
gustine was erected by order of the Spanish Cortes, to 
commemorate the liberal constitution which gave some- 
thing like ''autonomy" to the colonies. The Governor 
also sent from St. Augustine a company of negroes who 
attacked a number of invalided men of the United States 
Army and killed their commander. Lieutenant Williams. 
Thus the irritation between the Americans and Spaniards 
grew daily more bitter, and the end was at hand. Runa- 
way negroes from Georgia were continually escaping 
aoTvvcg, the Florida liiie. and the Spaniards i-efused to give 
them up when required to do so. They settled along the 
Apalachicola River, where Governor Nichols had built a 



11 

fort and a iiarrison under Colonel Blount on the bhilT 
wlc'ic IJlountstov.n now stands. 

In Aujj^ist. 1814. a British fleet entered Pensarola bay 
and garrisouefJ the forts by reqnt^st of rh? S{»ani>h Gov 
ernoi. This «yme within the letter uf the law .liitlioriz- 
ing th«' I'resjdtnt to seize West Florida if a foreign j»o\\er 
attempted to « ccupy it. General Andrew Jackson, with 
5,0<'(> Tennessee volunteers, captured IVnsaco!:!. and 1'ort 
J.arraiK ;is vv;is blown up by ihe British. Nor did Jack- 
sou stoiJ here — under his orders Colonel I>n»ic.iu 1... Clinch 
laarched again>t the negro settlement on the A[>ala< hicola 
Ui\er. with a irody of Creek Indians as anxiliaries. and 
two schooners mailed up from the Gulf to co operate. 
Clinch s-urrouuded the fort, but would not attack, where- 
upon the i.w€ beats gjtened fire. A hot shot from the boat 
known as '•I'yi.'" penetrated to the jiowder^ maga;'/ine left 
by the I'.iilish. and the fort blew uj) — out of ftna persons 
within the •Mrlbwork only fifty men werr* te[)orreii saved. 

General Jackson, with the Creeks, mad*' an inrcid into 
Florida in "ISIS. took the Miccosukee and Fowl tcwns. 
and on his return captured a Sjiauish fort at St. Marks 
Bay. He then accused the Spanish (iovoruor of Fensa- 
cola of obstru*ting the passage of his supplies on the Es- 
cambia Kiver. marched back and took the city, and held 
it for the FuitPd States. S])ain now despairoti of holdiLg 
the country, and sold both East and West Florida to the 
United Stni^s for $.5.0(10.000. stipulating that all her 
grants must be respected. The <"hange of tlags was 
effected at St. J>ugustiue. July 10. 1S21, .'uid -it IVn.^acola, 
July 21. General Jackson was then appointed irovernor. 

On 1 )cccii5b':'r 20 of the same year, Jaan. P. Sjilas. who 
held under a Spanish grant, flated 1."^!'.. sold his title to 
the Island of Key West to .John W. Simonton. 

On yUicli :'.o, 1S22. Congress declared Florida a Terri- 
tory of the Cnited States, and William P. Duval was ap- 
pointed (?o\ernor. The first legislative council met at 
Pensacol:. in June, 1822. but Congress dec!ai*e«l the two 
provinces tinited into one. and the next council met at 
St. Augustine March nO. 1823. 

In September. 1823. a treaty was made with Ihe Semi- 
nole Irdians at Moultrie, near St.* Augustine, by which 
they agreed ro send some of their chiefs to the west to 
report on iJic country, with a view to removing. 



12 

In I8'2i T)r. William H. Simmons and John L. Wil- 
liams, r'o)iniiissioners for the Legislative Council, selected 
Tallahassee for the seat of government, and the first 
honse in the i\ow capital was erected that winter. 

The chiefs who had been sent to the w^est were induced 
to sign a treaty agreeing to emigrate without reporting 
back to their people, and the attempt to inforce this 
agreement brought on the Seminole war. In 1831 the of- 
ficer ill roimiiand at Fort King, near Ocala, notified the 
Indian agent that the chiefs i*e fused to emigrate. 

The Seminole war may be said to have begun in 1835 
with the murder of General Thompson at Fort King, near 
Ocala, and the massacre of Major Dade's command near 
the pres< nt line of the Florida Central & Peninsular Kail- 
road. Hut of the many skirmishes and battles which 
took ;)jace. .'aere is neither space nor need to tell--all 
the In.ilians except a remnant had been removed to t)ie 
West in 18:^'.>, but these carried on a desultory war till 
1842. 

Durin-: this war was fouight the battle of Alachua Sa- 
vanna. !>ecembpr 10, 18r?5; the battle of Micanopy, De- 
cember 2(f, 1835; the massacre of General Thompson's 
party by ()sce_ola. December 28, 1835; the massacre of 
Major Dad's command. December 28, 1835 ; the battle of 
Withlacoochee, December 31, 1835; the second battle of 
Micanopy, .January 9, 183G; the battle of Wetumka, the 
same <lay; tlie battle of Dunlawton, January S, 183G; 
second baitle of Withlacoochee. February 29, 183G; third 
battle of ]Mi*-anopy. Jnne 9, 1830; battle of Wahoo 
Swamps, November 17, 18 and 21, 1836; battle of Harchee- 
lustee, Janaury 17, 1837. and the battle of Lak^: Monroe, 
February 8. 1837. 

A treaty with the Seminoles was concluded at Camp 
Dade, Mi'.rch 0. 1837. Osceola and seventy-on-3 prisoners 
were cajttiircd by General Jessup. in October, 1837. The 
feattle of Okeechobee was fought December 25. 1837; that 
of the Wa«assassa river the next day ; the one at Jupiter 
Creek. Jann.uy 15. 1838. and that of Jupiter Inlet, ..Jan- 
uary 21, 183N. Osceola- s death occurred at Fort Moul- 
trie, January 30. 1838. The battle of Chackachatta took 
place dune 2. 1840. and that of Wakahoota, Septeniber 0. 
1840. In n<'cember, 1840, General Harney's expedition 
to the Kvcrglades occurred. The last battle of the war — 



13 

that of Pilaklikaha— was fought April 19, 1842, and the 
war declared ended on the 14th of August following. 

In 1842 the capitol building in Tallahassee was com- 
pleted, having been begun in 1826. 

In February, 1835, the severest cold ever known in 
Florida occurred — the St. Johns was frozen several rods 
from the shore, and the thermometer marked 7 degrees 
above zero, a northwest wind blowing for three days. 

The first railroad, from St. Joseph to Bayou Columbus, 
was opened in 1836. 

On the 30th of January, 1838, the territorial legisla- 
ture passed an act, which was approved by Governor 
Call February 2, 1838, for calling a convention to prepare 
a state constitution. This convention met at St. Joseph, 
December 3, 1838. and on the 11th of January, 1839, 
agreed upon a constitution and a memorial to Congress 
asking for admission into the Union as a State. This 
measure was, however, delayed several years, and, in the 
meantime, projects for the formation of two territories 
were entertained, and bills for this purpose were intro- 
duced in Congress, hut not passed. An act for the admis- 
sion of Florida (including Iowa also) was at length 
passed, March 3, 1845. Durifig this year William D. 
Mosely became the first 'Governoi* of the new State. 

In 1857 two State seminaries of learning were organ- 
ized — one at Palatka and one at Tallahassee. The next 
year nearly all the S^minoles and Miccosukees emigrated 
to the West. 

On January 3rd, 1861, in pursuance of an act of the 
General Assembly, a convention assembled in Tallahas- 
see, and on January 10th adopted the ordinance of seces- 
sion, thus severing political relation with the Union. The 
vote on the passage of the ordinance was 62 to 7, the res- 
olution simply amending the constitution by inserting 
the words ^'Confederate States" wherever the words 
"United States" appeared in that document. The civil 
war followed with all of its dire consequences, which we 
will not attempt to deal with in this work. 

In 1865 President Johnson by proclamation appointed 
William Marvin Provisional Governor, and delegates 
were elected to a State Convention at Tallahassee, which 
adopted a new constitution without submission to the 
people, and repealed the ordinance of secession. In 1866 



14 

President Johnson declared "the insurrection which 
heretofore existed in the State of Florida at an end." . 

On January 20, 1868, the Constitutional Convention 
assembled at Tallahassee and organized with forty-one 
out of forty-six members, but immediately disagreed as 
to the eligibility of four members. Thereupon, fifteen 
niembcMS withdrew and decided not to atteul the meet- 
ings. On February 6,,D. Richards, president of the con- 
vention, announced the adoption of the new constitution. 
With the period that followed we cannot deal in a space 
so narrow, nor with the disputes that followed the count- 
ing of the Presidential vote in 1876. But with the elec- 
tion of Governor Drew, in that year, the development of 
Florida as it now exists began. 

In November, 1880, William D. Bloxham was elected 
Governor, and soon after sold to Hamilton Disston and a 
syndicate of Philadelphia capitalists, 4,000,000 acres of 
land for |1,000.000. This sum rehabilitated the credit of 
the State, which since then has been kept at the high- 
water mark, and Florida entered upon an era of internal 
devp]o])irent which has made he? one of the most prosper- 
ous in the South, and must soon make of her one of the 
richest. 

In 1S85 a new Constitutional Convention met at Talla- 
hassee and adopted a new 'constitution, which was sub- 
mitted to the people for ratification in 1886, and went 
into effect in 1887, by the proclamation of Governor 
Perry. 

In 1889. phosi)hate rock was discovered in Marion 
County, at Dunnellou, and shortly following in many 
other portions of the State. The effect was to give great 
]>r!iininpn(e to the possible mineral resources of the 
State, and the investment of large amounts of foreign 
capital. Continued development has proven the deposit 
to be the largest and most important in the 'vorld. 

On February 7th, 1895, a very severe cold wave passed 
over the State, which, with the exception of one or two 
protected localities in the far southern portion, destroyed 
a)l tb' citi'us fruit gvov?s in the State. The trees were 
full of sap following a term of very warm weather and a 
temperature ranging about 10 to 12 degrees through the 
fruit sections was more than the tree could stand. The 
following is the record taken from the I'^^nited States 
Weather Bureau reports : 



15 

( (MJ) WAVES AND FKOSTH OF 18!)r,. 

The scvoie-st lolU wavo, more properly blizzard, envel- 
oped Florida on February 7tli, Stli, 0th and LOth, beiii}; 
severest on 81 h and Oth. This is the coldest weather of 
which there :s any official record, or other information 
reasonably leliable. The lowest temperature re[)orted. 
as stated rtboAc. was 11 dejirees at Pensacola and Talla- 
hassee on ih(> 8th. This cold wave was almost coexten- 
sive with I he State, the only section escapinj^ beinp; the 
extreme .southern part of the peninsular. It is conserv- 
ativelv esiimated that it damaged the State to the extent 
of .f.~)0.0(Mi.OO(). for the p-eater portion of the fruit inter- 
ests wei-e killed: not only fruit l)einj; frozen, but trees 
were killed io the ground. Last killinj; frost of sprinsr 
occur led on March 4th at Lake City. Orange Park avtd 
Tarpon Sjuinas. The first killing frost of autunui was 
at Lake CiTv j-nd ^lilton on November 21st, an interval 
of -262 da vs. 

TRKCIPITATIOX. 

Tlie niejiii an'-^ual ]»reci](itation for the Stat" was 45. .^0 
inches, A\hicli is seven inches less than the amouuni of 
1894, and more than eight (8) inches below the normal. 
The greatest monthly amount was 21.08 inches at Jupiter 
in October, and the least monthly amount 0.24 inches at 
Key "West in Z>rovember. The igreatest annual an^^nnt, 
72.47 inclies. at Jupiter; the least annual amount, 20.19 
inches, at Kev West; the greatest amount in any 24 hours. 
5.07 inches, at Plant City, July 11th and 12th.' 

As usual, the stations*near the coast report the great- 
est amount of precipitation, which is usually made ex- 
cessive by the approach or passage of tro])ital hurri- 
canes. 

sxow. 

More snow f'-ll during February than at any time sinic 
the niele(nologioal service has been established in this 
State. Traces of snow fell at Eustis on the 11th and 
Ifith ; at Ja:ksonville. sleet and snow on the lltli contin- 
uing for five (i)) minutes; at Lake City an inch of snow 
on loth; there were drifts two to three inches vleep. It 
was (he lirsr sriow since 1851-52. At Manatee, snow on 



16 

Sth; ^loseley Hall, 14tb, said to have been the first in 
fortj-thcefi jears; Mullet Key on 9th, melting soon as it 
fell; Tallaliassfe, two (2) inches fell on the 14th and re- 
mained on the grond till the lith; Tampa, on the Sth; at 
Peasacola the snow was sufficient to permit of sleighing. 

SLEET. 

Archer, on l-lth; Jacksonville, 14th; Lake City, 15th; 
Moseley Hnll, 14th, and Tallahassee, 15th. 

As i hough the elements of nature still maintained an 
unsatisfied grudge against the State, not content with 
the desfruction wrought in 1895, she overwhelmed our 
I)eopIe with a second demonstration of her ability to 
wield fhe sceptor of her icy power and wrap the hopeful 
prospects of a golden future in shrouds of the great 
''While Death," for on February 13th, 1899, another dis- 
astrous cold wave fell ujx)n us with all its fury. Fol- 
lowiUs? is tKe record : 

A MEMORABLE FEBRUARY. 

The montli gave radical departures from normal condi- 
tions, and is unique wherein it recorded the coldest 
weatlier obfaiaable from authoritative sources. The first 
decade gave the lowest pressure and the second decade 
the lowest temperature. Temperatures were abnormally 
low ovr a large portion of the State on the Sth and 9th, 
rising slowly thereafter until the 11th. The morning uf 
the 13th was noted for temperatures ranging from 2 de- 
grees below to 10 degrees above zero over extreme north- 
ern and western counties. On the 13th and 14th freez- 
ing conditions obtained over the entire State, on the last 
named date becoming severe as far south as Dade county. 
Temperatures continued low over the northern and cen- 
tral section., until the 16th, when warmer weather set in. 
On the night of the 12th and during the greater portion 
of the a. m. of the 13th light snow fell over nortliern and 
central sections. It extended as far south as DeSoto 
county. Orange groves sufl'ered severely, the greater 
numbeL' through central counties being killed to the 
ground. 

The mean monthly temperature was 4 degrees? below 
the normal. The highest mean monthly temperature, 



17 

70.2 (lo:^i('i^y. occurred at Kev West; the lowest mean 
montiiiy, 4.'J.0 degrees, was recorded at Peusacoia. The 
highest teniporature recorded during the month, S7 de- 
grees, Ava.s> reported from Fort Meade; the lowest, -2 de- 
grees, occcurred at Tallahassee on the 13th; absolute 
range for the State during the month was 89 degrees. 
Precipitation averaged 5.69 inches, which was quite 3 
inches a))ove the normal. The greatest monthly total 
was 11. -JO inches, at Kissimmee; the least, 2.77 inches at 
Lemon City. The greatest amount for any twonty-four 
consGcutivG hours was 6.05 inches at Myers. Ice formed 
over every section of the State on the lith excepting Key 
West. The j)revailing winds during the month were from 
the southwest. 

On May 3rd. 1901, the city of Jacksonville was swept 
by one of the most disastrous conflagrations in modern 
times; over 2,600 buildings in the principal business and 
residence portions of the city were destroyed in a few 
hours, involving a loss of about fifteen million of dollars; 
at this time, a little over two years since the fire, a larger 
number of new and finer buildings have been erected in 
place of the old; the cit}' is practically rebuilt, hand- 
somer and more prosperous than before. 

Following is a list of the Territorial and State Execu- 
tives, and United States Senators, and th^r terms of of- 
fice, to the present date: 

TERRITORIAL GOVERNORS. 

Andrew Jackson 1821-1822 

William P. Duval ', 1822-1834 

John H. Eaton 1834-1836 

Richard K. Call 1836-1839 

Robert R. Reid 1839-1841 

Richard K. Call 1841-1844 

John Branch 1844-1845 

STATE GOVERNORS. 

William D. Moseley 1845-1849 

Thomas Brown 1849-1853 

James E. Broome 1853-1857 

Madison S. Perry 1857-1861 

2 H. F. 



18 

John Milton 18G1-1865 

William Marvin (Provisional) 1865-1866 

David S. Walker 1866-1868 

Harrison Reid 1868-1872 

Ossian B. Hart (died) 1872-1874 

Marcel) US L. Stearns 1874-1877 

George F. Drew 1877-1881 

William D. Bloxham 1881-1883 

Edward A. Perrv 1885-1889 

Francis P. Fleniing 1889-1893 

Henrv L. Mitchell 1893-1897 

William D. Bloxham 1897-1901 

W. S. Jennings 1001-1905 

UNITED STATES SENATORS FOR FLORIDA. 

'' James D. Westcott. Jr 1845-1849 

-? David L. Yulee 1845-1851 

Jackson Morton 1849-1855 

^ Stephen R. Mallorv 1851-1861 

5 David L. Yulee . .' 1855-1861 

Seats vacant in Thirty-seventh, Thirty-eighth, and 
■> Thirty-ninth Congress. 

' Thom'as W. Osborn 1868-1873 

V Adoni jah H. Welch . ^ 1868 

£? Abijah Gilbert 1869-1875 

, 7 Simon B. Conover 1873-1879 

^ ,, Charles W. Jones 1875-1887 

^iVilkinson Call .1879-1897 

/■ Samuel Pasco 1887-1899 

/'Stephen R. Mallorv 1897-1903 

J. P. Taliaferro . .' 1899 

iStephen R. Mallorv 1903 ■ 



CONHTITUTIOrS^ 



# 



OF THE 



STATE OF FLORIDA, 



ADOPTED BY THE 



CONVENTION OF 1885. 

[As Amended.] 



PREAMBLE. 



We, the people of tlie State of Florida grateful to Al- 
mighty God for our constitutional liberty, in order to 
secure its blessings and to forui a more prefect govern- 
ment. insviiJDg domestic tranquility, maintaining pub- 
lic order, and guaranteeing equal civil and political 
ri^ts to all. do ordain and establish this Constitution. 



BECLAEATION OF RIGHTS. 

Section 1. All men are equal before the law. and have 
certain inalienable rights, among which are those of en- 
joying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possess- 
ing and protecting property, and pui'siuing happiness and 
obtaining safety. 

Sec. 2. All political power is inherent in the people. 
Government is instituted for the protection, security and 
benefit of the citizens and they have the right io alter 
or amend the same whenever the jniblic good may re- 
quire it; but the paramount allegiance of everv citizen 



20 

is due to the Federal Goverumeut, and the people of this 
State have no power to dissolve its connection therewith. 

Sec. 3. The right of trial by jury shall be secured to all, 
and remain inviolate forever. 

Sec. 4. All courts in this State shall be open, so that 
■every person for any injury done him in his lands, goods 
person or reputation shall have remedy, by due course of 
law, and right and justice shall be administered without 
sale, denial or delay. 

Sec. 5. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious 
profession and worship shall forever be allowed in this 
State, and no porsbu shall be rendered incompetent as a 
witness on account of his religious opinions; but the lib- 
erty of cons< iv'nce hereby secured shall not be so con- 
strued as to Justify licentiousness or practices subvei'sive 
of, or inconsistent with, the peace or moral safety of the 
State or society. 

Sec. 6. No preference shall be given by law to any 
church, sect or mode of worship and no money shall ever 
be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly 
in aid of any church, sect or religious denomination, or 
in aid of any sectarian institution. 

Spc. 7. The writ of Jmbeas corpus* shall be grantable 
speedily and of right, freely and without cost, and shall 
never be suspended unless, in case of rebellion or inva- 
sion, the public safety may require its suspension. 

iSec. 8. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor exces- 
sive fines be imposed, nor cruel or unusi^al punishment or 
indefinite imprisonment be allowed, nor shall witnesses 
be unreasonably detained. 

Sec. 9. All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sure- 
ties, except for capital offences, where the proof is evidenf 
or the presumption great. 

Sec. 10. No person shall be tried for a capital crime or 
other felony, unless on presentment or indictment by a 
grand jury, except as is otherwise provided in this Con- 
stitution, and except in case of impeachment, and la 
cases in the militia when in active service in time of war, 
or which the State, with the consent of Congress, may 
keep, in time of peace. 

Sec. 11. In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall 
have the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impar- 
tial jury, in the county where the crime was committed. 



21 

and shall be heard by himself, or counsel, or both, to de- 
mand the nature and cause of the accusation against him, 
to meet the witnesses against him face to face, and have 
compulsory process for the attendance of witnesses in 
his favor, and shall be furnished with a copy of the in- 
dictment against him. 

Sec. 12. No person shall be subject to be twice put in 
jeopardy for the same offence, nor compelled in any crim- 
inal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived 
of life, liberty or property without due process of law; 
nor shall private property be taken without just compen- 
sation. 

Sec. 13. Every person may fully speak and write his 
sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the 
abuse of that right, and no laws shall be passe.l to re- 
strain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In 
all criminal prosecutions and civil actions for libel the 
truth may be given in evidence to the jury, and if it skall 
appear that the matter charged as libellous is trtie, and 
was published for good motives, the party shall be ac- 
quitted or exonerated. 

Sec. 14. No person shall be comiH'lled to pay costs ex- 
cept after conviction, on a final trial. 

Sec. 15. The ]»eop1e shall have the right to assemble to- 
gether to consult for the common good, to instruct their 
representatives, and to |>etition the Legislature for re- 
dress of grievances. 

Sec. 10. No person shall be imprisoned for debt ex- 
cept in case of fraud. 

Sec. 17. Xo. bill of attninder, cr post facto law, nor any 
law impairing the obligation of conti-ncts. shall cv^m* !>e 
passed. 

Sec. IS. Foreigners shall have the same rights as to the 
ownershij). inheritance and disposition of property in 
this State as citizens of the State. 

Sec. 19. Xeither slavery nor involuntary servitude, ex- 
cept as a punishment for crime, whereof the party has 
been duly convicted shall ever be allowed in tkis State. 

Sec. 20. Tlie right of the peo]»le to he;\v arms in defence 
of themselves and the lawful authority of the State, shall 
not be infringed. Init the Legislature may prescribe the 
manner in which they may be borne. 



Sec. 21. The military shall in all cases and at all timea 
be in strict subordination to the civil power. 

Sec. 22. The right of the people to be secure in their 
persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable 
seizures and searches, shall not be violated, and no war- 
rants issiied but upon probable cause, supported by oath 
or affirmation, particularly describing the place or places 
to be searched, and the person or persons, and thing or 
things to be seized. 

Sec. 23. Treason against the State shall consist only in 
levying war against it, adhering to its enemies, or giving 
them aid and comfort; and no person shall be convicted 
of treason excepjt on the testimony of two witnesses to 
the same overt act, or confession in open court, and no 
conviction for treason shall work corruption of blood or 
forfeiture of estate. 

Sec. 24. This enunciation of rights shall not be con- 
strued to impair or deny others retained by the people. 



ARTICLE I. 



BOrXDAUTFS. 



The bouM(l;iries of the State of Florida shall be as fol- 
lows: roiniiicncing at the mouth of the river I'efdido; 
from them t' ud tlic middle of said river to where it in- 
tersects the south boundary line of the State of Alabama, 
and the diivty-first degree of north latitude; thence due 
east to the Chattahoochee river; thence down the middle 
of said river to its confluence with the Flint river; thence 
istraight to the head of the St. ^larys river; thence down 
the middle of said river to the Atlantic ocean; thence 
southeastw.'t'dly along the coast to the edge of the Gulf 
Stream; thence southwestwardly along tlie edge of the 
Gulf <treaiii and Florida Reefs to and including the Tor- 
tugas '^lands; thence northeastwardly to a point three 
league> fi-om ihe mainland; thence northwestwardly 
three lea.i-ues fi-oni the land, to a point west of the mouth, 
of the Perdido river; thence to the {dace of beginning. 



23 ) 

ARTICLE ir. 

DISTRIF.UTTOX OF POWERS. 

The powers of the ooveninient of tlie State of Florida 
shall be divided into three departments— Legislative, Ex- 
ecutive and Judicial; and no person properly belonging 
to one of the departments shall exercise any powers ap- 
pertaining to either of the others, except in cases ex- 
pressly provided for by this Constitution. 



ARTICLE III. 



LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. 



Section 1. The Legislative authority of this State shall 
1)^ vested in a Senate and a House of Representatives, 
which shall be designated, "The Legislature of the State 
of Florida," and the sessions thereof shall be held at the 
seat of government of the State. 

See. 2. The regnlar sessions of the Legislj^ture shall be 
held biennially, commencing on the tirst Tuesday after 
the first Monday in April, A. D. 1887, and on the corre- 
sponding day of every second year thereafter, but the 
Governor may convene the same in extra session by his 
proclamation. Regular sessions of the Legislature may 
extend to sixty days, but no special session convened by 
the Governor shall exceed twenty days. 

* Sec. 3. The members of the House of Representatives 
of the State of Florida shall be chosen biennially begin- 
ning with the general election on the first Tuesday after 
the first jlonday in November. 1808, and thorealtcv on 
the cori*esponding day of every second year. 

Sec. 4. Senators and members of the House of Repre- 
sentatives shall be duly qualified electors in the respec- 
tive counties and districts for which they were chosen. 
The pay of members of the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives shall not exceed six dollars a day for each day 
of session, and mileage to and from their homes to the 



• Amended in 1896. 



f .24 

«eat of government, not to exceed ten cents a mile each/ 
way, by the nearest and most practicable route. 

Sec. 5. No Senator or member of the House of Kepveseu- 
tatives shall, during the time for which he was elected, 
be appointed or elected to any civil office under the Con- 
stitution of this State, that has been created, or the 
emoluments whereof shall have been increased during 
such time. 

Sec. 6. Each House ^hall judge of the qualifications, 
elections and returns of its own members, choose its own 
officers, and determine the rules of its proceedings. The' 
Senate shall, at the convening of each regular session 
thereof, choose from among its own members a perma- 
nent President of the Senate, who shall be its presiding 
officer. The House of Representatives shall, at the con- 
vening of each regular session thereof, choose from among 
its own members a permanent Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, who shall be its presiding officer. Each 
House may punish its own members for disorderly con- 
duct : and each House, with the concurrence of two-thirds 
of all of its members present, may expel a member. 

Sec. 7. No person holding a lucrative office or appoint- 
ment under the United States or this State, shall be eli- 
gible to a seat in the Legislature of this State. 

Sec. 8. The seat of a member of either House shall be va- 
cated on his permanent change of residence from the dis- 
trict or county from which he was elected. 

Sec. 0. Either House during the session may punish by 
fine or imprisonment any person not a member who shall 
have been guilty of disoi^derly or contemptuous conduct 
in its presence, or of a refusal to obey its lawful sum- 
mons, but such imprisonment shall not extend beyond 
the final adjournment of the session. 

Sec. 10. Either House shall have power to compel the 
attendance of witnesses upon any investigations held by 
itself, or by any of its committees; the. manner of the 
exercise of such power shall be provided by law. 

Sec. 11. A majority of each House shall, constitute a 
.quorum to do business, but a smaller number may ad- 
journ from day to day. and compel the presence of absent 
members in snob manner and under such penalties as It 
may prescribe. 



Sec. 12. Each House shall keep a Journal of its own 
proceedings, which shall be published, and the veas and 
nays of the members of either Hou^e on any question 
shall, at the desire of any five members present, be en- 
tered on the Journal. 

Sec. lo. The doors of each House s.hr.11 be ke])t open 
durin^:^ i'lS session, except the Senate wliile sitting in 
Executive session; and neither shall, without the lousent 
of thvi other, adjourn for more than three days, or ro any 
other town than that in which they may be holding their 
session. 

Sec. 14. Apv bill may originate in either House of ihe 
Le(gislatur(\ ii\u\ after being passed in one House may be 
amended in the other. 

Sec. 15. The enacting clause of every law .>hall be as 
follows: ''He it enacted by the Legislature of the State 
of Florila." 

Sc^. lo. Each law enacted in the T>egislature shall em- 
brace but (me subject and matter projierly cninieerf^d 
therewith, wliich subject shall be briefly expressed in the 
title; and no law shall be amended or revised by Tefcr'Mi<e 
to its title only, but in such case the act. as revised, or 
section, as amended, shall be re-enacted and published at 
length. 

* Sec. 17. ]>.-ery bill shall be read by its tiile. on its 
first reading, in either house, unless oue-tlnvil of ilip 
member.- present desire it read by sections. Every bill 
shall be read on three several days unless two thirds nf 
the members ])resent when such bill may be pending shall 
deem it expedient to dispense with this rule, livery bill 
shall be read by its sections on its second rending and 
on its riual passage, unless on its secoiid reading two- 
thirds f»f the members present in the House whej'c such 
bill may be sending, shall deem it exjiedient to dispense 
with this rule. The vote on the final passage of every bill 
or join: resolution shall be taken by yeas and nays to be 
entered on the J(uirnal of each house; Provided, That any 
general revision of the entire laws embodied in anv bill 
shall not be reouirsMl to be read l)y sections upon its 
final passage. f>nd its reading may be wholly di'^>ensed 
W'ith by a two-third vote. A maiority of th'^ mendiers 
present iu each hoii^se shall be necessary to jtass every bill 



Amended in 1896. 



2G 

or joint rofiolntion. all bills or joint resolntions so passed 
shall be sioiiod by the presiding- officer of the respective 
Houses and by the Secretary of the Senate ami the Clerk 
of the Honse of Representatives. 

Sec. IS. Xo law shall take effect nntil sixty days from 
the final adjonrnment of the session of the Legislature 
at wh'- h it may have been enacted, unless, otherwise 
specially provided in such law. 

See. iO. Accurate statements of the receiptv«« ind expen- 
ditures of i]w public money shall be attached to i^nd pub- 
lished wilh the laws passed at every regular session of 
the Legislature. 

Sec. 20. The Legislature shall not pass special or local 
laws i^^i any (^f Ihe followinjg- enumerated cases: that is to 
say, regulating the jurisdiction and duties of any class 
of officers, except municipal officers, or for the punish- 
ment of crimc^ or misdemeanor; regulating the practice of 
courts of justice, except municipal courts; provi<ling for 
changing venne of civil and criminal cases; granting ('i- 
vorces; changing the names of persons; vacating roads; 
summoning; and empaneling grand and petit juries, and 
providin.'- for their compensation; for assessment and 
collection of taxes for State and county purposes ; for 
openin^^X «'J»d conducting elections for State atid <-ouuty 
officers, and for designating the places of voting; for the 
sale of real testate belonging to minors, estates of dece- 
dents, and of persons laboring under legal disabilities; 
regulating tjie fees of officers of the State and county; 
giving efl'ect 1o informal or invalid deeds or wil's; legiti- 
mizing (hildren ; provid'ng for the adoution of children ; 
relieving minors from legal disabilities; and for the es- 
tablishment of ferries. 

Se^. 2\. In all cases enumerated in the preceding sec- 
tion, all lasvs shall be general and of uniform op<'ration 
throughout the State, but in all cases not enumerated or 
excepted in {hut section the Legislature may pasfa special 
or local laws; Prnridrd. That no local or special bill 
shall be passed, unless notice of the intention to apply 
therefor shall have been published in the locality Avhere 
the matter or thing to be affected may be situated, which 
notice shall state the substance of the contemplated law, 
and shall be jmblished at least sixty days prior to the in- 
troduction into the Lcigislature of su(*li bill, and in the 
Tiianuer lo be provided by law. The evidence that such 



27 

notice lias been published shall be extablisheil in the f.eg- 
islatui'O before such bill shall be passed. 

Sec. 22. I*rovision maj be made by general law for 
bringing suit against the State as to all liabilities now 
existin.:; or hereafter originating. 

Sec. 23, Lotteries are hereby- prohibited in this State. 

See. 2J. The Legislature shall establish a uniform sys- 
tem of county and municipal government, which shall be 
applicabi'^, ex'.ej>t in cases where ]o<al or special laws 
are ynovided by the Legislature that may be inconsistent 
therewith. 

* Sec. 2r«. The Legislature Siiall provide by general law 
for incorporating such educational, agriculturMi. niechan 
ical, mining, transportation, mercantile and other use- 
ful companies or associations as may be deemed neces- 
sary; but it shall not pass any s[)ecial law on anv such 
subject:, and any such special law shall be ot no eife<-t; 
Provide<l, Jiowever. That nothing ]r«tM'cin shall preclude 
special legislation as to a university or the ]»ul)lii- >cliools, 
or as to a ship canal across the State. 

Se-^. 20. ]>asvs shall be passed rogulating eVctions, and 
prohiliiring, ',ii(ler adequate penalties, all undue intlueace 
thereo7i from power, bribery, tumult or other improper 
practice. 

Sec. 27. The Legislature shall provide for the election 
by [ho |ieo])le or ap])ointment by the Governo;* of alt 
State and County otiicers not otherwise provided for by 
this Constilntion. and fix by law their duties and compen- 
sation. 

Sec. 28. Kvery bill that may have ])assed the Legisla- 
ture shall, before becoming a law, be j)resented to the 
Governor; if he approves it he shall sign it, but if not he 
shall return it with his objections to the House in which 
it originated, which House shall cause such objections 
to be eu-Lcred upon its Journal, and proceed to leconsider 
it; if, after such reconsiderajion, it shall ]>ass both 
Houses by a Iwo-thirds vote of members present, which 
vote shai; he entered on the Journal of each House, it 
shall become a law. If any bill shall not l-.e returned 
within fi\e days after it shall have been ]»resen.ted to the 
Govern»)r (Sunday exce[)ted) the same shall be a law, in 

* Amended in 1897. 



28 

like manner as if he had signed it. If ihe Legislature, by 
its final adjonrnment prevent such action, such bill shall 
be a law, unless the Governor, within ten days after lhe 
adjournment, shall file such bill, with his objections 
thereto, in the office of the Secretary of State, who sliall 
lay the same before the Legislature at its next session, 
and if the same shall receive two-thirds of the votes pres- 
ent, it shall become a law. 

Sec. -0. The House of Representatives shall have the 
sole power of impeachment; but a vote of two-thirds of all 
members present §hall be required to impeach any officer ; 
and all imTtrmcUments shall be tried by the Senate. 
When sitting for that purpose the Senators shall be 
upon oath or affirmation, and no person shall be con- 
victed W)thn\it the concurrence of two-thirds of the Sena- 
tors presciit. The v^enate may adjourn to a fixed day 
for the irial of any impeachment, and may 'it for the 
purpose of such trial whether the House of Representa- 
tives be in session or not, but the time fixed for such 
trial shall not be more than six months from the time 
articles of "mpeachment shail be preferred by the House 
of Representatives. The Chief Justice shall pi'esid;; at all 
trials by impeachment except in the trial of the Chief 
Justice, when the Governor shall preside. The Gover- 
nor. Administrative officers of the Executive Depart- 
ment. Justices of the Supreme Court, and Judges of the 
Circuit Court shall be liable to impeachment for any mis- 
demeanor in office, but judgment in such cases shall ex- 
tend only to removal from office and disqualification to 
hold any oP'icp of honor, trust or profit under the State; 
but The ])aTlT convicted or acquitted shall nevertheli^ss 
be liable to indictment, trial and punishment according 
to law. 

Sec. .'^O. T;aws making appropriations for the «5alari'^s «>f 
public olT'i!-f>rs and other ctirrent expenses of the Stale 
shall i^mta''; i>rovisions on no other subject. 

Se.". ni. Tho Legislature shall elect United States Sen- 
ators in ihe manner prescrilbed by the Congress cf the 
United Stales and by this Constitution. 

Sec. 'V2. The repeal or amendment of any Criminal 
Statute shall not affect the prosecution or punishment 
of any crime committed before such repeal or amend- 
ment. 



at 

Spr'. .^o. No sfatnto shall be passed lessoni;!^':; ^.lie time 
within >vhi<li n civil ax'tion n>ay be commenfed on any 
cause of action existinj; at the time of its passntje. 

* See. ^i. immediately upon the impeachment of any 
officer by the House of Representatives, he shall he dis- 
qualified from performing any of the duties of his olTice 
until acquitted by the Senate, and the Governo? in such 
case t-hall at once appoint an incumbent to fill such of- 
fice pendinfj the imj^eachment proceedings. Ir. case of 
the impeachment of the Governor the Presid«nii'". of the 
Senat<^. or. in case of the death, resignation or inability of 
the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, shall act as Governor pending the im- 
peachmeni procedings against the Governor. 



ARTICLE IV. 

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. 

Section 1. The Supreme Executive power of the State 
shall l>e vesfed in a Chief Magistrate, who shall be styled 
the Governor of Florida. 

Sec. 2. 'JVie Governor shall be elected by the qualified 
electors of t'le State at the time and places of voting for 
members of the Legislature, and shall hold his olfice for 
four years from the time of his installation, but shall not 
be eligible for re-election to said office for four years 
from, The time of his installation, but shall not be eligible 
for re-election to said office the next succeeding term; 
Provided. That the first election for Governor under this 
Constitution shall beJiad at the time and plaoea of voting 
for members ^,i the Legislature and State officers, A. T). 
1888, «:nd the term of office of the Governor then elected 
shall begin on the first Tuesday after the first Monday In 
January after his election. 

Sec. 3. No person shall be eligible to the office of Gover- 
nor who io not a qualified elector, and who has not been 
ten years a citizen of the United States, and five years a 
citizen and resident of the State of Florida, next preced,- 
ing the time of his election; Provided, That these limita- 
tions of time shall not apply to the President of the Sen- 



Amended in ISO?). 



30 

ate or Speak#^r of the HoBse of Representanve;^ wheu. 
nndir This < OiiPtirnTion. the powers and duties of 'jover- 
nor shijll tleviilve upon them. 

Sec. 4. The Governor shall be Commander-in-Chief of 

the TTtillrnry f,»rfes of the ^^tate. exr-ept when they shall 
be eall<ri iuxf the servit-e of the United States. 

Se^. .". The Governor shall transact all Exeentive busi- 
ness with the officers of the Government, civil and mili- 
tary, and way reqnire information in writing fr«^m the 
admini>Traiive officers of the Executive Department np«^Ti 
any «Tibje<-t relating to the duties of their respective 
offices. 

Se •- fi. The Governor shall take care that the laws be 
faithicliT ex?cnted. 

Se.-. 7. Wiien any ofRce. from any canse. shall T>e«:-omc 
vac-aDT. and n."* mode is provided by this Constitution or 
by the l.iws of the iJ^tate for fillinor such vacancr. the Gov- 
ernor sh;ill liare the power to fill such vacancy by grant- 
ing a cominissKai for the unex[>ired term. 

Se.-. S. The Governor may. on extraordinary .Kcasions. 
convAK** th** Le-islatnre by pro4lamation. and .>hall in his 
proclamat'or state the purpose for which it is 1o l)e f-on- 
vened. :ind the Legislature when or;:anized shall transact 
no legislative business other than that for w^ich it ia 
especially r onvened. or such other legislative basiness as» 
the Govem'^r may call to its attention while Ja s«^sjon, 
except by a two-thirds vote of each House. 

Sec. f». The Governor shall commifnicate by inessage to 
the Tj^^islatore at each resrular session information con- 
cerning the condition of the State, and recommend STit-h 
measnres as be may deem expedient. 

Se?*. 10 Tn case of a disagreement betwefn the two 
Houses with respect to the time of adjonmment. th? Gov- 
''rnor shall have power to adjourn th^ Legislar.ire to snch 
time ns he ina^ Think proper, provided it be not Ijoyond 
the t;jni- fsTPd for the meetins of the next Legi^Iatrire. 

Se»». 1!. Th«» Governor shall have power to snspend ^he 
colW-tTO»» of fin*^ and forfeitures, and grant reprieve 
for a T>eri<'«l not exceeding sixty days, for all offenr*»s. ex- 
eept i?: «'«<< s t.f impeachment. In cases of conviction for 
treason he shil\^ have power to suspen*! the execution of 
senten«-e vM't] the rase .shall be reported to the Legisla- 
ture at its Dext session, when the Legislature shall either 



partlon. dirfri the exociilion of tlie sentPiice, or jxrniir a 
furthor n-jiripve; and if the Lepishinire shall fail or re- 
fuse To make disposition of such rase, the senteT:ce shaM 
he enforced at snoh time and place as the Governor may 
direi't. Ht shall coninmnicate to the T.e<;islature. at the 
hejiinniiii: of every session, every case of fine or foifeitnre 
remitted, (u* reprieve, pardon or commutation jjrrnnled. 
statin jf the name of the convict, the crime 'or which he 
was i-oiixicted. the spntence. its date, and the dale of its 
remission, connnntation. ]>ardon or reprieve. 

* Sec. 1 2. The Governor. Secretary of State. rom]>trol- 
ler. Attorney-(Teneral and Commissioner of Ajii'icuHui*e 
or a mr.joi 'p.irt of them, of whom the Governor- shall l)e 
one. may u])on such conditions and with such limirations 
and i-esiriclions as they may deem jiroper. remit fines 
and forfeitures, commute punishment and svant pardon 
after conviction, in all ca^^s exr?pt treason and impeach- 
ment, subiect to such regulations as may be prescribed In- 
law relative to the manner of applying f<^r pardons. 

Sev\ \?>. The Governor may. at any time, require the 
opinion of the Justices of the Supreme Court as to the iu- 
terprotation of any portion of this Constitutii)n uT)on any 
ouestion alTectinjr his Executive poM'ers and duties, and 
the .Tusn'ces shall render such oju'nion in writing. 

Se^. 14. .Ml grants and commissions shall be in the 
name and under the authority of the State of Florida. 
i?eal*^d with the great seal of the State, signed by the Gov- 
ernor, .ind countersigned by the Secretary of State. 

Sec. I'j. All officers that shal' have been ap])()iuted or 
elected, and that are not liable to impeachment. m;iy be 
suspended from office by the Governor for malfeasance, 
or misfeasance, or neglect of duty in office, for tiie com- 
missioi of .my felony or for drunkenness* or incom]>e- 
tency. and the cause of suspension shnll be connnunirated 
to tin* oiTirer suspended and to the Senate at its next 
session. And the Governor, by and with the consent of 
the Senate, may remove any oft'icer. not liable to im- 
]>ea:'hment, for any cause above named. Evei'v suspen- 
sion sliall continue until the adjournment of the next ses- 
sion of the Senate, unless the officer suspended &>hall. 
upon ihe rC'-ommendation of tlie Governor. Ix? r.MUoved ; 



* Amended i« ISOG. 



32 

bnt tbe Governor mny reinstate the officer so snsi»f-nfl^«l 
npon SiiTisfae?ory evii3en«?e that the charge or 'rharge* 
againsT hiui are untrue. If the Seuate shall refuse to re- 
mote, t'T iyAl to take aeitoa before its adjonrnraert. the 
officer suspended shall resume the duties of the offi« e. 
The C«»veriior shall have power to fill by appolniRiour auy 
office, the imumbent of which has been suspended. Xo 
officer susT»^nded who shall under this section resume the 
duties of his office, shall suffer any loss of salar>- or other 
.HOP in conse<|uence of sut-h suspension. The 
- ii or i^moval herein authorized shall pot reiirve 

the oiiieer from indictment for any misdemeant»r in f»ffic-e. 
Sec. jii. The Governor shall appoint all commissioned 
officers of the f*tate Militia, including an Adiutant-Gen- 
eral foi- the State. The Adjutant-General shall be the 
chief offif-cr of the Governor's staff, with the rank of 
Major-Genera I. His duties and compensation shall be 
prescril»ed by law: Provided. That this Constitutfon sliall 
work no vacancy in the offic-e of Adjutant-General, aa 
now constirated. until the expiration of the present term. 
Se<-. 17. Th<» Governor and the administrative offi<-ers 
of the Executive r>epartment shall constitute a JJoard of 
Connu ism! oners of State Institutions, which Board shall 
have supervision of all matters connected with such insti- 
tntions in Kuch manner as shall be prescribed by law, 

See. IS. The Governor shall have power to disa^^prove 
of any item or items of any bills making appropriations 
of money ♦'inbracin? distinct items, and the part or i)art8 
of the bill r shall be the law. and the item or 

items of r-pi n disapproved shall be void, unless 

repa«se4 accordicig to the rules and limitations prescribed 
for the uasfiage of other bills over the Executive veto. 

Set-- II). In case of the impeachment of the Governor, 
his removal from office, death, resignation <tT 'liability to 
discharge h's («#icial duties, th& powers and daties of 
Governor shall devolve upon the President of th*? Senate 
for the r-sidne of the term, or until the disability shall 
cca*?: and ir rase of the impeachment, removal from of- 
fice. -death, resignation or inability of th* President of the 
Senate, the {>owers and duties of the office shall devolve 
upon the Siieaker of the House of Representatives. Rut 
should there be a general election for members of the Leg- 
islature during' such vacancy, an election for Governor to 
fill the same s^hall be had at the same time. 



S3 

Sec. 20. The Governor shall be assisted by administra 
tive (>llKorf> as follows: A Secretary of State, Attorney- 
General, CcmptroUer. Treasurer. Superintendeni of Public 
Instruction, and Commissioner of Agriculture, who shall 
be eleite.l at the same time as the Governor, and shall 
hold their cffices for the same term; Provider, That the 
first e!p< tirn of such officers shall be had at the time of 
votin:? for ^4overnor A. D. ISSS. 

Sec. 21. The Secretary of State shall keep the records 
of ofticiai ;icis of the Legislative and Executive Depart- 
ments of the GovernmeuT. and shall, when required, lay 
the game, and all matters relative thereto, before either 
branch of the Legislature; and shall be the custodian (.f 
the Great Seal of the State. He shall also liave charge 
of the Capitol buildings and grounds, and perform such 
other duties ns shall be prescribed by law. 

Sec. 22. The Attorney-General shall be the legar advisor 
of thv? Governor, and of each of the ofticers of the Execu 
tive Department, and shall perform such other legal du- 
ties as mnv be prescribed by law. He shall be Kejx)rter 
for the Sujjreme Court. 

Sec. 23. The Comptroller shall examine, audit, adjust 
and settle the accounts of all officers of the State and jter- 
forra such other duties as may be prescribed by law. 

Sec. 24. The Treasurer shall receive and keep all 
funds, bonds, and other securities, in such manner as 
may be ])rescribed by law, and shall disburse no funds, 
nor issue bonds, or other securities, except upon the or- 
der of the Comptroller, countersigned by the Governor, 
in such manner as shall be prescribed by law. 

Se2. 2r». The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall 
have supervision of all matters pertaining to public in- 
struction ; the supervision of State buildings devoted to 
educational purposes, and perform such other duties as 
the Legislature may provide by law. 

Sec. 20. The Commissioner of Aigriculture shall perform 
such duties in relation to agriculture as may be pre- 
scribed by law; shall have supervision of all matters per- 
taining to the public lands under regulations prescribed 
by law, and shall keep the Bureau of Immigration. He 
shall also have supervision of the State Prison, and shall 
perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law. 

3 H. F. 



34 

See. 27. I-^.k-Ii offirer of this DepaitnuMit sliall tiuike a 
full roporl of bis oflPicial nets, of the receipts and exjjeii- 
ditnrt:.-? of Ins office, and the reqiiiveiuents of Iho same. 
to the (Governor at the beginning of each regular session 
of the LegisIaTiire. or whenever the Governor shall re- 
quire it. Such reports shall be laid before the Legisla- 
ture br The>(70vernor at the beginning of each regular ses- 
sion tliereof. Either House of the Legislature may ;it 
any time ca'l r.pon any officer of this department lor in- 
formation T'^(ju:red by it. 

Sec. 28. Tl'e administrative officers of the Executive De- 
partment shall be installed on the same day as the Gov- 
ernor. 

Sec. 2i!. 'Die salary of the Governor of the State «hall 
be thirtv-five hundred dollars a year, of the Comptroller 
two ihousand dollars, of the State Treasurer two ihous- 
and dollars, of the Secretary of State fifteen hundred dol- 
lars,' oi the Attorney-General fifteen hundred dollars, of 
the Gonimissiouer of Agriculture, fifteen hundred dollars, 
of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, fifteen hun- 
dred doliais. a year; l^rovided. That no administrative 
officer of the Executive ^^epartment shall receive auv ad- 
ditional eompensation beyond his salary for any service 
or se-vices rendered the State in connection with the In- 
ternal Improvement Fu:id or other interests belonging to 
the State of Florida; Trovided. further, That the Legisla- 
ture may after eight years from the adoption of this Gou- 
stitution increjise or decrease any or all of said salaries. 



ARTICLE Y. 

.TrnTOTAnV nEPART^fEXT. 

Sec lion 1. Tlie judicial power of the Sta'e shall be 
vested in a Supreme Court. Circuit Courts, (^riminal 
Courts, County Courts, County Judges and Justices of 
tlfe Peace. 

* Sec. 2. The Supreme Court shall consist of three Jus- 
tices, except :is hereinafter provided, who shall be elected 
by the qualified electoi-s of the State at the time and 

* Amended in 1901. 



35 

places (*f vntir.jx for iiioi\ibers of the [.(Viislatiuo. and sliail 
hold t!i!Mr oili<e for the term of six years, except those 
first elecled, one of whom, to he desijiuated ]\y lor in such 
maiinor as lliey may determine, shall hold liis olfiep for 
two years; anolher. to be desiiLinated in likv^ manner, for 
four years, and tlie third for six years, so that one ^hall 
bo elected every two years after the first election. The 
Chief rhisiirc shall be desiijnated by lot by stid Justices, 
and sin, II be sik h dnrinj; his term of office. The first 
election for said Justices shall take jthice at the first elec- 
tion foi* n-embers of the Lep:islatnre after the ratificatioTi 
of this (^onslitntiou, and their term of office shall begin 
on the nr«r Tuesday after the first ]Monday in January 
after their election. T'pon ratification of this aisH-ndment 
to th-" ( institution, the Governor, by and vrdi ihe con- 
sent of the Senate, shall ap]>oint three more .Jnstices of 
the ^^upremr Court, each of whom shall hav;^ Ihe same 
powers and rhall receive the same compensation as each 
of the other Justices of the Supreme Court, and each of 
the Jus'.K es s«- appointed shall hold off'ice until the lirst 
Tuesday after the fiist ^fonday of Jun.e in the year 1005. 
and may further hold office until his successor shall be 
elected and qualified, if it shall be so ]>rovide'i by law. 
For the yaw 1005 and for the subsequent years the Legis- 
lature may provide by law for the election of such num- 
ber oi' Justi<es of the Supr''me Court as it may determine. 
and prescribe their terms of office, not to exceed six 
years ;.I*rovided. That the number of Justices of the Su- 
preme Court holding office at the same time shall not be 
less th.iu three, and shall not be greater than six. and \}V0- 
vided that no Justice of the Supreme Court ''•an by such 
an act of the J.egislature be deprived of his office during 
the term for which he was elected. 

Sec. 3. No ]»erson shall ever be appointed or elected as 
a Justic.^ oF the Supreme Court, or Judge of a Circuit 
Court, or Criminal Couii:. that is not twenty-five years of 
age and an attorney at law. 

* Sec. 4. The majority of the Justices of ihe Supreme 
Court shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all 
business. Hut when there shall be six Justices of the 
Supreme Court, the Court may hear and deterniine cases 
and exercise any of its powers when sitting eilher in a 



Ajnended in 1901. 



36 

body or in two divisions, under such regulations as may 
be presoribc'd by law or by the rules of said couil not in- 
consisrent therewith. The concurr-^nce of a majority of 
the uieinlx-'is of the Court sitting in any cause wherein 
the Courl slmll sit as one body shall be necessarv to a 
dcci.^ion ; and when any member of a division of the 
Court shall dissent from the majority of such division oii 
any question, f.uch question shall be submitted to the 
Court sitting Jn a body. The number of terms of the 
Supreme Court and the time of holding the same shall be 
reiguhited by laAv. All terms shall be held at the Capital 
of the Stote. 

Sec. 5, The Supreme Court shall have appellate juris- 
diction in all cases at law and in equity originating in 
Circuit Courts, and of appeals front the Circuit Courts in 
cases arising before Judges of the County Courts in mat- 
ters pertaining to their probate jurisdiction and in the 
management of the estates of infants, and in cases of con- 
viction of felony in the crimin"! courts, an<l in ail crimi- 
nal cases originating in the Circuit Courts. The Court 
shall have llie powder to issue writs of mandamus, certio- 
rari, [)rohibition, quo warranto, habeas corpus and also 
all writs necessary or proper to the complete exercise of 
its jurisdicticn. Each of the Justices shall liave power to 
issue writs of habeas corpus to any part of the folate 
upon petitjon by or on behalf of any person held in 
actual custody, and may make such writs returnable be- 
fore himself or the Supreme Court, or any Justice thereof, 
or before •niA Circuit Jitdge. 

Sec. (5. The Legislature shall have power to presci-ibe 
regulations f-.T calling into the Supreme Couj-t a Judge 
of the Circuit Court, to hear and detd^mine any matters 
pending before the Court in the place of any Justice 
thereof that thall be disqualified or disabled in such case 
from interest or other cause. 

Sec. 7. The Supreme Court shall appoint a Clerk who 
shall have his office at the Capital and shall be Librarian 
of the Supreme Court Library. 

* Sec. 8. There shall be eight Circuit Judges who slinll 
be appointed by the Governor, and confirmed by the Sen- 
ate, and who shall hold their office for six years. The 
State shall be divided by the Legislature at its lirst regu- 



* Amended in 1901. 



37 

lar session after the ailoption of this section, into eii>ht 
Judicial Ciirnits. and one .Ind^e shall he assigned to each 
Circuit. Siuh Jiidoe shall hold at least two terms of his 
Coui't in eacli county within his Circuit every year, and 
at sudi times and places as sliall be prescribed l>y law, 
and may hold special terms. The Governor may. in his 
discretiop, order a temporaiT exchange of Circuits by the 
respecti\'e Judges or order any Judge to hold one or 
more termr or part or parts of any term in any other Cir- 
cuit than ihat to which he is assigned. The Judge shall 
reside in the Circuit of which he is Judge. This section 
shall not bn operative until the Legislature shall have di- 
vided this State into Eight Circuits, as hereinbefore pro- 
vided for; and the seven Circuit Judges holding olfice at 
the time of such division shall continue to exercise juris- 
diction ovei their several existing Circuits as constituted. 
at 'he time of such division, until the Judge of Jie addi- 
tional Circui: shall have qualified. The Circuit Judges 
holding office at the time of such division shall severally 
continue in ofi'ice until the expiration of their then exist- 
ing term of office as Judge of the Circuits respectively in 
which, under such division, the county of his residence 
may be included; and a Judge for the additional Circuit 
shall be appointed for a term equal to the unexpired term 
of the other Circuit Judges upon such division being made. 
The salary of each Circuit Jndge shall lie two thousand 
seven hundred and fifty dollars. 

See. 9. The salary of the Justices of the Supremo Court 
shall he thre" thousand dollars a yeai'. The salaiy of 
each Circuit Judge shall be two thousand five hundred 
dollars a yeai. 

Se-". 10. T^'ntil otherwise defined by the Legislature the 
several Jud'cial Circuits of the State shall be as follows: 

The First Judicial Circuit shall be comimsed of the 
counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton, Holmes, 
Washington and Jackson. 

The Second Judicial Circuit shall be compos;ed c.f tho 
counties of Cadsden, Liberty, Calhoun, Franklin, Leon. 
Wakulla and Jetferson. 

The Third Judicial T'ircuit shall be composed of the 
counties of Madison, Taylor, Lafayette, Hamilton, Su- 
wannee and Columbia. 

The Fourth Judicial Circuit shall be composed of ll*e 



38 

counties of Xassan, Dnval, Baker, Bradford. Clay aiul St. 
Johns. 

The Fiftli Jndicial (Mrciiit shall be composed of tlie 
counties of rutnani. Alachua. Levy, ^Marion and Sumter. 

The Sixth Judicial (Mrcuit shall be coni])()sed of the 
counties of Hernando. Hillsborough, Manatee, Polk and 
Monroe. 

The Seventh Judicial Circuit shall be comi)Osed of the 
counties of Volusia, Brevard, Orange and Dade. 

Sec. 11. The Circuit Courts shall have exclusive original 
jurisdiction in all cases in equity, also in all cases at law, 
not cognizable by inferior courts, and in all eases involv- 
ing the legility of any tax, assessment, or toll ; of the ac- 
tion of e.iectn)ent and of all actions involving the litles or 
boundaries of real estate, and of all criminal cases not 
cognizable by inferior courts; and original jniisdirtion of 
actions of forcible entry and unlawful detainer, and of 
such other nu5 Iters as the Legislature may provide. They 
^all have- final appellate jurisdiction in all civil and 
criminal cases arising in the County Court, oi- befoi-e the 
County Judge of all misdemeanors tried in Criminal 
Courts, of judgments or sentences of any ^layor's Court, 
?|nd of all cases arisini-^ before Justices of the Peace -n 
counties in which there is no County Court ; a>ui supervis- 
ion and appellate jurisdiction of mattei's arising before 
County Judges pertaining to their probate jurisdiction, 
or to the estates rind interests of minors, and of such 
other matters as the TiCgislature may provide. The Cir- 
cuit Courts and Judges shall have power to issue writs 
of mandamus, injunction, quo warranto, certiorari, prohi- 
bition, habeas corpus and nil writs ]>roper and necessary 
to the compfete exercise of their jurisdiction. 

Sec. 12. The Circuit Courts and Circuit -Tudges may 
have such extra territorial jurisdiction in chancery cases 
as may be prescribed by law. 

Sec. 13. It sliall be the duty of the .Judges of the Circuit 
Courts to repr.i't to the Attoniey Oeneral at least thirty 
days before eju-h session of the Legislature such defects in 
the laws as may have been brought to their attentioti, and 
to suggest suci; amendments or additional legislation as 
may be deemed necessary. The Attorney-rieneral sl.all 
report to the Legislature at each session such legislation 
as he mav deem advisable. 



39 

Sec. 14. A (''n-nit Judue in;rv apjjoint in oacli county 
in his Circuit one or more attorneys at hwv. to be Court 
(^'ouiniissioners. wlio sliall have power in the absence from 
the county of the Circuit -Tudoe. to allow writ.s of iMJunc- 
tion and to issue writs of habeas coi^ius. returnable be- 
fore himself or the Circdlt Jujljie. Their orders in such, 
nmtters may b'^ reviewed by the Circuit Judjic and con- 
firmed, qualifed or vacated. They may be removed by 
the Circuit Judjie. The Legislature may confer upon 
them further j)Owers. not judicial, and shall fix their com- 
pensation. 

Sec. 15. The Governor, by and with the consent of the 
Senate, shall appoint a State Attorney in each Judicial 
Circuit, whos« duties shall be prescribed by law, and who 
shall hold office for four years. There shall be elected in 
each County a Sheriff, and a Clerk of the Circuit Court, 
who shall als/) be Clerk of the County Court, except in 
counties where there are Criminal Ce^|rts, and of the 
Board of CouDty Commissioners, and Eecorder and ex- 
officio Auditor of the County, each of whom shall hold 
office for four years. Their duties shall be pi*escribed by 
law. 

Sec. 10. Thei-e xball be in each county a County Judge, 
who shall be elected by the qualified electors of said 
county at the time and places of votinp: for other i-ounty 
officers and shall hold his office for four years. His com- 
pensation shall be provided foj* bv law. 

Sec. 17. The County Judge shall have origina' jurisdic- 
tion in all ca«es at law in which the demand or value of 
property involved shall not exceed one hundred dollars; 
of proceedin[<;s relating to the forcible entry c'v unlawful 
detention of lands and tenements; and of such criminal 
tention of lands and tenements; and of such <-iiminal 
cases as the Legislature may prescribe. The County 
Judge shall have jurisdicion of the settlement of the es- 
estate of decedents and minors, to take probate (if wills, 
to grant letters testamentary and of administration and 
guardianship, and to discharge the duties usuallv per- 
taining to court* of probate. ITe shall have the power of 
a committing inasfistrate and shall issiie all lic<-nses re- 
quired bv law to be issued in the county. 

Sec. 18. The Legislature may oruanize in such counties, 
ns it may think proper. County Courts which shall have 
jurisdiction of all cases at law in which the demand or 



40 

value of the j loperty involved shall not exceed live liiiu- 
dred dollars; of proceedings relating to the foicible en- 
try or unlawful detention of lands and tenements, and of 
misdemeanors, and final appellate jurisdiction in civil 
cases arisino- in the Courts of Justices of the J'eace. The 
trial of such appeals may be dc novo at the option of ap- 
pellant. The County Judge shall be the Judge of said 
Court. There shall be elected by the qualified electors of 
(said county at the time when said Judge is elected a 
Prosecuting Attorney for said county, who shall hold of- 
fice for four years. His duties and compensation shall 
be prescribed by law. Such Courts may be abolished at 
the pleasure of the Legislature. 

Sec. 19. When any civil case at law in which the Judge 
is disqualified shall be called for trial in a Circuit or 
County Court, the parties may agree upon an attorney 
at law, who shall be Judge ad litem, and shall preside 
over the trial of and make orders in said cause as if he 
were Judge of the Court. The parties may, however 
transfer the cause to another Circuit Court or County 
Court, as the case may be, or nuiy have the case submitted 
to a referee. 

Sec. 20. Any civil cause may be tried before a practic- 
ing attorney as referee upon the application of the par- 
ties and an order from the court in whose jurisdiction 
the case may be. authorizing such trial and appointing 
such referee. The referee shall keep a complete record of 
the case, including the evidence taken, and such record 
shall be filed Avith the papers in the case in the office of 
the Clerk; and the cause shall be subject to an appeal in 
the manner prescribed by law. 

Sec. 21. The County Commissioners of each county 
shall divide it into as many Justice Districts, not less 
than two, as they may deem necessary. There shall be 
elected one Justice of the Peace for each of the said dis- 
tricts. He shall hold his office for four years. 

* Sec. 22. The Justices of the Peace shall have jurisdic- 
tion in cases at law in which the demand or value of the 
property involved does not exceed flOO.OO and in which 
the cause of action accrued or the defendant resides in 
his district; and in such criminal cases, except felonies. 

'Amended in 1869. 



41 

as may be piesciibed hy law, and he shall have power tO' 
issue process for the arrest of all persons charged with 
felonies and misdemeanors not within his jurisdiction 
to try, and make the same returnable before hin]self or 
the County Judge for examination, discharge, 'Commit- 
ment or bail of the accused. Justices of the Peace shall 
have power to hold inquests of the dead. Appeal from 
Justices of the Peace Courts in criminal cases may be 
tried de novo under such regulations as the Legislature 
may prescribe. 

Sec. 23. A Constable shall be elected by the registered 
voters in each Justice's district, who shall perform such 
duties, and under such regulations as may be prescribed 
by law. 

Sec. 24. There shall be established in the County of 
Escambia, and upon application of a majority of the 
registered voters in such other counties as the Legislature 
may deem exjiedient, a Criminal Court of Record, and 
there shall be one Judge for each of the said courts, who 
shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the 
Senate, who shall hold his office for four years, and whose 
salary shall be one thousand dollars a year, the counties 
paying the salaries. 

iSec. 25. The said courts shall have jurisdiction of all 
criminal cases not capital which shall arise in said coun- 
ties respectively. 

Sec. 2G. There shall be six terms of said courts in each 
year. 

Sec. 27. There shall be for each of said courts a Prose- 
cuting Attorney, who shall be appointed by the Governor 
and confirmed by the Senate, and who shall hold his of- 
fice for four years. His com]iensatiou sluili 1h^ fixed ii.' 
law. 

Sec. 28. All offences triable in said Court shall be 
presecuted upon information under oath, to be filed by 
the Prosecuting Attorney, but the grand jury of the Cir- 
cuit Court for the county in which said Criminal Court 
is held may indict for offences triable in the Criminal 
Court. Upon the finding of such indictment the Circuit 
Judge shall commit or bail the accused for trial in the 
Criminal Court, which trial shall l>e upon information. 

Sec. 29. The Countv Courts in counties where such 



42 

r.rimina] Courts are establif^lied sliall have no criminal 
jurisdiction and no Prosecuting Attorney. 

Sec. 30. The Clerk of said Court shall be elected by the 
electors of the county in which the Court is held and 
shall hold office for four years, and his compensation 
shall be fixed by law. He shall also be Clerk of the 
County Court. The Sheritt' of the County shall be the 
executive officer of said Court, and his duties and fees 
shall be fixed by law. 

Sec. 31. The State Attorney residing in the county 
where isuch Court is held shall be eligible for appoint- 
ment as County Solicitor for said county. 

Sec. o2. Such courts may be abolished by the Legisla- 
ture, 

Sec. 33. When the office of any Judge shall become va- 
cant from any cause, the successor to fill such vacancy 
shall be appointed or elected only for the unexpired term 
of the Judge whose death, resignation, retirement, or 
other cause created such vacancy. 

Sec. 34. The Legislature may establish in iucorporated 
towns -and cities, courts for the punishment of offences 
against municipal ordinances. 

* Sec. 35. No courts other than htrein spiecified shall be 
established in this State, except that the I^egislature may 
clothe any railroad commission with judicial powers in 
all matters connected with the functions of their office. 

Sec. 36. All judicial officers in this St{#? shall be con- 
servators of the peace. 

Sec. 37. The style of all process shall be ''The State of 
Florida," and all prosecutions shall be conducted in the 
name and by the authority of the State. 

Sec. 38. The number of jurors for the trial of causes in 
any court may be fixed by law but shall not be less than 
six in anv case. 



Amended in 1894. 



43 
AKTICLE YI. 

SUFrUAGK AXI) EI-IGIBILITY. 

* Section 1. Every male i»ei>i()u of the afie of tweiity- 
oue years and upwards, that shall, at the tiuie of regis- 
tration, be a citizen of the United States, and thaf shall 
have resided and had his habitation, domicile, home and 
place of permanent abode in Florida for one year and in 
the county for six months, shall in such county be deemed 
a qualified elector at all elections under this (jonstitu- 
tion. ^Naturalized citizens of the T'nited States at -h*^ 
time of and before registration shall produce to the reg- 
istration officer his certificate of naturalization or a duly 
certified copy thereof. 

Sec. 2. The Legislature, at its first session after the 
ratification of this Constitution, shall provide by law for 
the registration of all the legally qualified voters in each 
county, and for the returns of elections; and shall also 
provide that after the completion, from time to time, of 
such registration, no person not duly registered accord- 
ing to law shall be allowed to vote. 

iSec. 3. Every elector shall at the time of his re{;';i&tra- 
tion take and subscribe to the following oath: "[ do 
solemnly swear or affirm that I will protect and defend 
the Constitution of the United States and of the State of 
Florida, that I am twenty-one years of age, and have been 
a resident of the- State of Florida for twelve mouths and 
of this county for six months, and I am qualified to vote 
under the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida." 

Sec. 4. No person under guardianship, nori compos men- 
tis or insane shall be qualified to vote at any election, 
nor shall any person convicted of felony by a court of 
record be qualified to vote at any election unless restored 
to civil rights. 

Sec. 5. The Legislature shall have power to, and shall, 
enact the necessary laws to exclude from every office of 
honor, power, trust or profit, civil or inilitary, within 
the State, and from the right of suffrage, all persons 
convicted of bribery, j»erjury, larceny, or of infamous 
crime, or who shall make, or become directly or indirectly 



* Amended in 1899. 



44 

interef^ted in. any bet or wager, the result of wliich shall 
depend upon any election; or that shall hereafter fight a 
duel or send or accept a challenge to fight, or that shall 
be a second to either party, or that shall be the bearer of 
such challenge or acceptance; but the legal disability 
shall not accrue until after trial and conviction by due 
form of law. 

Sec. 6. In all elections by the Legislature the vote shall 
be vii:u voce and in all elections by the people the vote 
shall be by ballot. 

*Sec. 7.— 

Sec. 8. The Legislature shall have power to make the 
payment of the capitation tax a prerequisite for voting, 
and all such taxes received shall go into the school fund. 

Sec. 9. The Legislature shall enact such lawis as will 
preserve the purity of the ballot given under this Consti- 
tution. 



ARTICLE VII. 

CENSUS AND APPORTIONMENT. 

Section 1. The Senators representing the odd numbered 
districts, as said districts are now designated, whose 
terms have not expired, and those Senators representing 
even numbered districts, to be elected A. D. 1886, under 
the Constitution of 18G8. shall be the first Senate under 
this Constitution ; and the members of the Assembly to 
be elected A. D. 1880 shall be the first House of Represen- 
tatives under this Constitution, and the Senate and 
House of Representatives thus constituted shall be the 
first I^egislature under this Constitution, and the terms 
of office of each of the said Senators and members of the 
House of Representatives shall expire at the election for 
Senators and members of the House of Representatives 
A. D. 1888, and in that year a new Senate and House of 
Representatives shall be elected. 



* Repealed in 1894. 



* Sec. 2. The Lejiislature shall consist of not more than 
thirty-two members of the Senate, and of not more than 
sixt^'-eight members of the House of Representatives. 
The members of the House of Representatives shall be 
elected for terms of two year#, and the members of the 
Senate shall be elected for terms of four years, except as 
hereinafter provided. The elections for members of the 
House of Representatives and Senate shall be at the same 
time and places. The terms of office of the Senators 
elected in October A. D. 189G, shall expire on the first 
Tuesday after the first Monday in November A. D. 1900, 
and the terms of those elected in November A. D. 189b, 
shall expire on the first Tuesday after the first Monday 
in November A. D. 1902. and thereafter all Senators shall 
be elected for four years. 

Sec. 3. The legislature that shall meet A. D. 1887, and 
those that shall meet every ten years thereafter, shall ap- 
portion the representation in the Senate, the whole num- 
ber of Senators not to exceed thirty-two members ; and 
at the same time shall also apportion the representation 
in the House of Representatives, the whole number of 
Representatives not to exceed sixty eight members. The 
representation in the House of Representatives shall be 
apportioned among the several counties as nearly as 
possible according to population; Provided, Each county 
shall have one representative at large in the House of 
Representatives, and no county shall have more than 
three Representatives. 

fSec. 4-. Where any Senatorial District is composed of 
two or more counties, the counties of which such district 
consists, shall not be entirely separated by any county, 
belonging to another district. Any new county that may 
be created, shall be entitled to one member in the House 
of Representatives, in excess of the limit prescribed in 
Sec. 2 of this Article until the apportionment following 
next thereafter, and shall be assigned when created to 
one of the adjoining Senatorial Districts as shall be de- 
termined by the Legislature. 



* Amended in 1896. 
/Amended in 1897. 



46 

Sec. 5. The Legislature shall provide for an enumera- 
tion of all the inhabitants of the State by counties for 
the year 1895, and every ten years thereafter. 



AETICLE VIII. 

COUNTIES AND CITIES. 

Section 1. The State shall be divided into political di- 
visions to be called counties. 

Sec; 2. The several counties as they nov^- exist are here- 
by recognized as the legal political divisions of the State. 

Sec. 3. The Legislature shall have power to establish 
new counties, and to change county lines. Every ne^\{ly 
established county shall be held liable for its proportion 
of the then existing liabilities of the county or counties 
from which it shall be formed, rated upon the basis of the 
assessed value of the property, both real and personal, 
subject to taxation within the territory taken from any 
county or counties; and every county acquiring addi- 
tional territory from another county shall be held liable 
for its j)roportion of the liabilities of such other county 
existing ni the time of such acquisition, to b;' v;il(vl u])on 
the basis of the assessed value of all property subject to 
taxation within such acquired territory. 

Sec. 4. The Legislature shall have no power to remove 
the County Seat of any county, but shall provide by gen- 
eral law for such removal ; Pr-ovided, That in the forma- 
tion of new counties the County iSeat may be temporarity 
established by law. 

* Ser. 5. Immediately upon the ratitication of this 
amendment the County Commissioners of the several 
counties of this State shall divide their respective coun- 
ties into five Commissioners' districts, to be numbered 
lespectively from one to five inclusive, and each district 
shall be. as nearly as possible, equal in proportion to pop- 
ulation, and tliereafter there shall be in each of such dis- 
tricts a County Commissioner, who shall be elected by 
the qualified electors of said county, at tl>;^ lime and 



* Amended in 1897 



47 

place of votiug for other county officers, and shall hold 
his office for two years. The powers, duties "and compen- 
sation of such County ('o.nnnissionfrs shall be prescribed 
by law; Provided, That nothing herein shall effect the 
terms of Commissioners holding office at the time of such 
division ; Provided, further, That all vacancies occurring 
by limitations of terms, or from death, resignation or 
otherwise, before the election of irM)2 shall be filled by 
apj)ointment by the Governor as now provided b} iaw. 

Sec. (). The Legislature shall provide for the election 
by the qualified electors in each county of the following 
county officers : A Clerk of the Circuit Court, a Sheriff. 
Constable, a County Assessor of Taxes, a Tax Collector, 
a County Treasurer, a Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion, and a County Surveyor. The term of office of all 
county officers mentioned in this section shall be four 
years, except that of County Assessor of Taxes, County 
Tax Collector and County Treasurer, who shall be elected' 
for two years. Their powers, duties and compensation 
shall be ])rescribed by law. 

Sec. 7. The Legislature shall by law authorize the Coun- 
ty Commissioners of the several counties, where it is 
deemed necessary for assessment purjioi-es, to <livide theif 
respective counties ink) taxation districts, and to appoint 
in and for each district an Assistant Assessor of Taxes. 
whose powers, duties and compensation shall be pre- 
scribed by law. All county officers, except Assistant As- 
sessors of Taxes, shall, before entering upon the duties 
of theii- respective offices, be cojnmissioned by the Glov- 
ernor; but no such coiumisision sliall issue to any such 
officer until he shall have filed Avith the Secretary of 
State a good and sufficient bond in such sum and upon 
such conditions as the Legislature shall by law prescribe, 
aj)i>roved by the County CoTiimissioners of the county in 
which such officer resides, and by the Comptroller. No 
county officer shall become security upon the official 
bond of any other county officer. If any person elected 
or appointed to any county office shall fail to j;ive bond 
and qualify within sixty days after his election, the said 
office shall become vacant. 

Fee. 8. The Legislature shall have power to establish 
and to abolish municipalities, to provide for their gov- 
ernment, 1() ])rfscri1)o their jurisdiction and powers, and 



48 



to alter or amend the same at any time. When any mu- 
nicipalitj' ishall be abolished, provision shall be made for 
the protection of its creditors. 



ARTICLE IX. 

TAXATION AND FINANCE. 

Section 1. The Legislature shall provide for a uniform 
and equal rate of taxation, and shall prescribe such regu- 
lations as shall secure a just valuation of all property 
both real and personal, excepting such property as may 
be exempted by law for municipal, educational, literary^ 
scientific, religious or charitable purposes. 

Sec. 2. The Legislature ishall provide for raising reve- 
nue sufficient to defray the expenses of the State for each 
fiscal year, and albo a sufficient sum to pay the principal 
and interest of the existing indebtedness of the State. 

Sec. 3. No tax shall be levied except in pursuance of 
law. 

Sec, 4. No money shall be drawn from the Treasury ex- 
cept in pursuance of appropriation^ made by law. 

Sec. 5. The Legislature shall authorize the several 
counties and incorporated cities or towns in the State to 
assess and impose taxes for county and municipal pur- 
poses, and for no other purposes, and all property shall 
be taxed upon the principles established for State taxa- 
tion. But the cities and incorporated towns shall make 
their own assessments for municipal purposes upon the 
property within their limits. The Legislature may also 
provide for levying a special capitation tax, and a tax 
on licenses. But the cqipitation tax shall not exceed one 
dollar a year and shall be applied exclusively to common 
school purposes. 

Sec. 6. The Legislature shall have power to provide for 
issuing State bonds only for the purpose of repelling in- 
vasion or suppressing insurrection, or for the purpose of 
redeeming or refunding bonds already issued, at a lower 
rate of Interest. 



40 

Sec. 7. No tax shall be levied for the benefit of any 
chartered company of the State, nor for paying interest 
on any bonds issued by such chartered companies, or by 
counties, or by corporations, for the above-mentioned 
purpose. 

Sec. 8. No person or corporation shall be relieved by 
any court from the payment of any tax that may be ille- 
gal, or illegally or irregularly assessed, until he or it 
shall have paid such portion of his or its taxes as may be 
legal, and legally and regularly assessed. 

Sec. 0. There shall t>e exempt from taxation property 
to the value of two hundred dollars to every widow that 
has a family dependeijt on her for support and to every 
person that has lost a limb or been disabled in war or by 
misfortune. 

Sec. 10. The credit of the State shall not be pledged or 
loaned to aay individual, company, corporation or asso- 
ciation; nor shall the State become a joint owner or 
stockholder in any company, association or corporation. 
The Legislature shall not authorize any county, city, 
borough, township or incorporated district to become a 
stockholder in any company, association or corporation, 
or to obtain or appropriate money for, or to loan its 
credit to any corporation, association, institution or in- 
dividual. 



ARTICLE X. 

* HOMESTEAD AND EXEMPTIONS. 

Section 1. A homestead to the extent of one hundred 
and sixty acres of land, or the half of one acre within the 
limits of any incorporated city or town, owned by the 
head of a family residing in this State, together with 
one thousand dollars worth of personal property, and the 
improvements on the real estate, shall be exempt from 
forced sale under process of any court, and the real estate 
shall not be alienable without the joint consent of hus- 
band and wife, when that relation exists. But no prop- 
erty shall be exempt from sale for taxes or assessments, 

4H. F. 



50 

or for the paj'ment of obligations contracted for the pur- 
chase of said property, or for the erection or repair of 
improvements on the real estate exempted, or for house^ 
field or other labor performed on the same. The exemp- 
tion herein provided for in a city or town shall not ex- 
tend to more imjirovements or buildings than the resi- 
dence and business house of the owner; and no judgment 
or decree or execution shall be a lien upon exempted 
property except as provided in this Article. 

Sec. 2. The exemptions i>rovided for in section one shall 
inure to the widyw and heirs of the party entitled to such 
€icemption, and shall apply to all 'debts, except a8 epeci- 
fied in said section. 

^ec. 3. The exemptions jaovided for in the ("onstitution 
of this State adopted in iSV,^ shall apply as to all debts 
oontracted and judgnients rendered since the adoption 
thereof and prior to the ado]>tion of this Constitution. 

Sec. 4. Nothing in this Article shall be construed to 
pi'erent the holder of a homestead from alienating his or 
her homestead so exempted by desed or mortgage dulj 
efeecmted by himsi^lf or herself, and by husband and wife, 
if such relation exists; nor if the holder be without chil- 
•dren to prevent him or her from disposing of his or her 
homestead by Avill in a manner prescribed by law. 

Sec. 5. No homestead provided for in section one shall 
be reduced in area on account of its being subsequently 
included within the limits of an incorporated city or 
town, without the consent of the owner. 

Sec. 6. The Legisla»-fure shall enact such laws as may be 
necessary to enforce the provisions of this Article. 



ARTICLE XI. 

MARRIED WOMEN^S PROPERTY. 

Section 1. All property, real and personal, of a wife 
owned by lier before mai'riage, or lawfully acquired after- 
ward by gift, devise, bequest, descent, or purchase, shall 
be her separate property, and the same shall not be liable 
for the debts of her husband without her consent given 
by some instrument in writing executed according to the 
law respecting conveyances by married women. 



r.i 

Sec. '2. A inaiiied Avonian's separate real or personal 
property may be charged in equity and sold, or the uses, 
rents and profits thereof se(]uestrated for the purchase 
money thereof; or for money or thinj^due upon any agree- 
ment made by her in writing for the b.nietit of her sepa- 
rate projterty ; or for the i>rice of any }»roperty j)urchased 
by her, or for labor and material used with her knawl- 
edge or assent in the cffnstruction of buildings, or repairs, 
or improvements u]»on her property, or for agricultural 
or other labor bestowed thereon, with her knowledge and 
consent. 

Sec. 3. The Legislature shall enact such laws as shall 
be necessary to carr^- into effect this Article. 



ARTICLE XIL 

EDl'CATIOX. 

Section 1. The Legislature shall ]»rovide for a uniform 
system of public free schools, and shall provid' for ^he 
libei'Jil maintenance of the same. 

Sec. 2. There shall be a Superintendent of Public In- 
struction, whose duties shall be prescribed by law. and 
whose term of office shall be four years and until the 
election and qualification of his successor. 

Sec. 3. The Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney- 
General, State Treasurer and State Superintendent of 
Public Instruction shall constitute a body corporate, to 
iie known as the State Board of Education of Florida, 
of which the Governor shall be President, and the Super- 
intendent of Public Instructi(m Secretary. This Board 
shall have power to remove any subordinate school officer 
for cause, upon notice to the incumbent; and shall have 
the management and investment of all State School 
Funds under such regulations as may be prescribed by 
law, and such supervision of schools of higher grades as 
the law shall provide. 

Sec. 4. The State School Fund, the interest of which 
shall be exclusively applied to the support and mainten- 
ance of public free schools, shall be derived from the fol- 
lowing sources : 



52 

The proceeds of all hinds that have been or may here- 
after be granted to the ;8tate by the United States foi: 
public school purposevS. 

Donations to the State when the purpose is not spec- 
ified. 

Appropriations by the State. 

The proceeds of escheated property or forfeitures. 
• Twenty-five per cent, of the sales of public lands which 
are now or may hereafter be owned by the State. 

Sec. .5. The principal of th^ State School Fund shall 
remain sacred and inviolate. 

Sec. 6. A special tax of one mill on the dollar of all 
taxable property in the State, in addition to the other 
means provided, shall be levied and apportioned annually 
for the support and maintenance of public free schools. 

* Sec. 7. Provision shall be made by law for the appor- 
tionment and distribtttion of the interest on the State 
School Fund and all other means provided, including the 
special tax. for the support and maintenance of public 
free schools, among the several counties of the State in 
proportion to the average attendance upon schools in the 
.said counties I'espectively. 

Sec. 8. Each county shall be required to assess and 'ol- 
lect annually for the support of public fi-ee schools 
therein, a tax of not less than three mills nor more than 
five mills on the dollar of all taxable property in the 
same. 

Sec. 9. The County School Fund shall consist, in ad- 
dition to the tax provided for in section eight of this Ar- 
ticle, of the proportion of the interest of the State School 
Fund and of the one mill State tax apportioned to the 
Ciounty; the net proceeds of all fines collected under the 
I)enal laws of the State within the county; all capitation 
taxes collected within the county ; and shall be disbursed 
by the County Board of Public Instruction solely for the 
maintenance and support of public free schools. 

Sec. 10. The Legislature may provide for the division 
of any county or counties into convenient school dis- 
tricts; and for the election biennially of three school 
trustees, who shall hold their office for two years, and 
who shall have the supervision of all the schools within 



* Amended in 1894. 



53 

the district: (tnd for the levying .and collection of fi dis- 
trict school tax, for the exclusive use of luiblic free schools 
within the district, whenever a majority of the qualified 
electors thei^eof that pay a tax on i-eal, or personal prop- 
erty shall vote in favor of such levy; Provided^ That anly 
tax authorized by this section shall not exceed three 
mills on the dollar in any one year on the taxable prop- 
erty of the district. 

Sec. 11. Any incorporated town or v>ity may constitute 
a School District. The Fund raised by section ten may 
be expended in the district where levied for building or 
repairing school houses, for the purchase of school libra- 
ries and text-books, for salaries of teachers, or for other 
educational jiurposes, so that the distribution among all 
the schools of the district be equitable. 

Sec. 12. White and colored children shall not be taught 
in the same school, but imjtartial provision shall be made 
for both. 

Sec. 13. No law shall be enacted authorizing the diver- 
sion or the lending of any County or District School 
Funds, or the appropriation of any part of the perma- 
nent or available school fund to any other than school 
purposes; nor shall the same, or any part thereof, be 
appropriated to or used for the support of any sectarian 
5chool. 

Sec. 14. The Legislature at its first session shall pro- 
vide for the establishment, maintenance and management 
of such Normal iSchool, not to ex<*ieed two, as the interests 
of public education may demasd. 

Sec. 15. The compensation of all county school officers 
shall be paid from the school fund of their respective 
counties, and all other county officers receiving stated 
salaries shall l)e paid from the general funds of their re- 
spective counties. 



ARTICLE XI I L 



PUBLIC INSTrrUTIOXS. 



Section 1. Institutions for the benefit of the insane, 
blind and deaf, and such other benevolent institutions as 
the public good may require, shall be fostered and sup- 



54 

ported h\ the State, subject to such regulations as may 
be prescribed by law. 

Sec, 2. A State Prison shall be established and main- 
tained in such manner as may be prescribed by law. Prj- 
vision may be made by law for the establishment and 
maintenance of a house of refuge for juvenile offenders; 
and the Legislature shall have power to establish a home 
and work-house for common vagrants. 

Sec. 3. The respective counties of the State shall pro- 
vide in the manner prescribed by law for those of the in- 
habitants that, by reason of age. infirmity or misfortune, 
may have claims upon the aid and syrapathy of society. 

Sec. 4. The first Legislature that convenes after the 
adoption of this Constitution shall enact the necessary 
laws to carry into effect the provisions of this Article. 



ARTICLE XIV. 



MILITIA. 



Section 1. All able-bodied male inhabitants of the State, 
between the ages of eighteen and forty -five years, that are 
citizens of the T'nited States, or have declared their in- 
tention to become citizens thereof, shall constitute the 
militia of the State; but no male citizen of whatever re- 
ligious creed or opinion shall be exempt from military 
duty except upoti such conditions as may be jjrescribed 
by law. 

Sec. 2. The Legislature may provide by law for organiz- 
ing and disciplining the Militia of the State, for the en- 
couragement of volunteer corps, the safe keeping of the 
public arms, and for a guard for the State Prison. 

Sec. '?,. The dovernor. by and with the consent of the 
Senate, shall o])point two . ^lajor-Generals and four 
Brigadier-Generals of Militia. They shall take rank ac- 
cording to the dates of their commissions. The officers 
and soldiers of the State ^Militia, when uniformed, sbnll 
wear the uniform prescribed for the llnifed States Army; 
Provlfled. That volunteer companies may select their own 
xiniforms. 



Sec. 4. The Grovernor shall have power to call out the 
Militia to preserve the public peace, to execute the laws 
of the State, to suppress insuri-ectiou, or to repel inva- 
sion. 



ARTICLE XV. 

PUBLIC HEALTH. 

Section 1. The Legislature shall establish a State 
Board of Health and also County Boards of Health ia 
all counties where it may be necessary. 

Sec. 2. The State Board of Health shall have supervis- 
ion of all matters relating to public iiealth, with such 
duties, powers and responsibilities as may be prescribed 
by law. 

Sec. 3. The County Boards of Health shall have suck 
powers and be under the supervision of the State Board 
to such extent as the Legislature may prescribe. 



ARTICLE XVI. 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. 

Section 1. The Seat of Government shall be at the City 
of Tallahassee, in the County of Leon. 

Sec. 2. Each and every officer of this State, including 
the members of the Legislature, shall before entering 
upon the discharge of his official duties take the follow- 
ing oath of office: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that 
I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and 
G*overninent of the United States and of the State of 
Florida ; that I am duly qualified to hold office under the 
Constitution of the State, and that I will well and faith- 
fully perform the duties of on which I am now 

about to enter. So help me God. 

Sec' o. The salary of each officer shall Ije payable quar- 
terly uiK)n his own i-equisition. 

Sec. 4. All county officers shall hold their respective 
offices, and keep their official books and records, at the 
county seats of their counties; and the Clerk and Sheriff 
shall either reside or have a sworn deputy within two 
miles of the countv seat. 



Sec. 5. The Legislature may provide for tlie donation 
of the public lands to actual settlers, but such donation 
shall not exceed eighty acres to any one person. 

*Sec. 6. The Legislature shall provide for the speedy 
publication and distribution of all laws it may enact. 
Decisions of the Supreme Court and all laws and judicial 
decisions shall be free for publicaiion by any person. But 
no judgment of the Supreme Court shall take effect until 
the decision of the court in such ease shall be filed with 
the clerk of said court. 

;Sec. 7. The Legislature shall not create any office, the 
term of which shqll h% longer than four years. 

Sec. S. A plurality of votes given at an election of of- 
ficers shall constitute a choice when not otherwise pro- 
vided by this Constitution. 

**Sec. 9. In all criminal cases prosecuted in the name 
of the State when the defendant is insolvent or dis- 
charged, The legal costs and expenses, including the fees 
•of officers, shall be paid by the counties where the crime 
is committed under such regulations as shall be pre- 
scribed by law; and all fines and forfeitures collected 
under the penal laws of the State shall be paid into the 
county treasuries of the respective counties as a general 
county fund to be applied to such legjll costs and ex- 
penses. 

Sec. 10. The Governor, Supreme Court and all the ad- 
ministrative officers of the Executive Department shall 
keep their offices at the Seat of Government. But in 
<'iase &f invasion or violent epidemics the Governor may 
direct that the offices of the Govtn'jiineut be reiii(>v»*d umii- 
porarily to some other place. The sessions of the Legis- 
lature may be adjourned for the same cause to some other 
place, but in case of such removal all the Departments 
of the Government shall be i^eiiioved to one place. But 
such removal shall not continue longer than the necessity 
for the same shall continue. 

Sec. 11. Xo extra compensation shall be made to any 
officer, agent, employe, or contractor after the service 
shall have been rendered, or the contract made; nor shall 
any money be appropriated or paid on any claim, the anb- 



♦Amended in 1896. 
**Amen^ed in 1894. 



ject matter or which shall not have been jnovided for by 
pre-existing laws, unless such compensation or claim be 
allowed by bill passed by two-thirds of the members 
elected to each house of the Legislature. 

' ^Sec. 12. The present seal of the State shall remain the 
seal of the State of Florida. The State flag shall be of 
the following proportions and description : Depth to be 
three-fourths length of fly. The seal of the State, of di- 
ameter one-third the fly, in the center of a white ground. 
Red bars, in width ony-eighth the length of fly extending 
from each corner toward the center, to the outer rim of 
the seal. 

**Section 13. The sureties upon the official bonds of 
all State, county and municipal officers shall be residents 
of, and have sufficient visible property unencumbered 
within the State, not exempt from sale under legal pro- 
cess, to make good their bonds ; and the sureties upon the 
official' bonds of all county and municipal officers shall 
reside within the county where their principals upon such 
bonds reside, and shall have sufficient visible and unen- 
cumbered property in such county, that is \v)i cxeTupt 
from sale under legal process to make good their liability 
on such bonds ; Provided. "That any duly organized and 
responsible guarantee or siirety company, either foreign 
or domestic, lawfully doing business in this State, may 
l»ecome and be accepted as surety on all such official 
• bonds." 

Sec. 14. All State, County and Municipal officers sihall 
continue in office after the expiration of their official 
terms until their successors are duly qualified. 

*The joint resolution approved August 6, 1S68 (Laws, p. 183), re- 
p^ved: "Tliat a seal of the size of the American silver dollar, hav- 
ing in the centre thereof a view of the sun's rays over a highland in 
the distance, a cocoa tree, a steamboat on water, and an Indian fe- 
male scattering flowers in the foregroUnd, encircled by the words 
'Great Seal of the State of Florida; in God We Trust,' be and the 
same is hereby adopted as the great seal of the State of Florida, 
and immedi-ately after such sea> shall be prepared for use, the Gov- 
ernor shall issue hi§ proclamation announcing that the same has be- 
come the great seai of the State." 

The Constitution of 1868, Article XVI, section 31, directed as fol- 
lows: "The Legislature shall, as soon as convenient, adopt a State 
emblem having the design of the great seal of the State impressed 
upon a .white ground of six feet six inches fly and six feet deep." 

••AmenOed in lRfl9. 
•Amended in 1897. 



Sec. 15. No person holding or exercising the functions 
of any office under any foreign Government, under the 
Government of the United States, or under an> other 
State, shall hold any office of honor or profit under the 
government of this State; and no person shall hold, or 
perform the functions of, more than one office under the 
government of this 'State at the same time; Provided, 
Notaries Public, militia officers, county school officers 
and Commissioners of Deeds may be elected or appointed 
to fill any legislative, executive or judicial office. 

Sec. 16. The property of all corporations, except the 
property of a corporation which shall construct a ship 
or barge canal across the peninsula of Florida, if the Leg- 
islature should so enact, whether heretofore or hereafter 
incorporated, shall be subject to taxation unless such, 
property be held and used exclusively for religious, 
scientific, municipal, educational, literaiy or fh'aritable 
pur-poses. 

Sec. 17. No person shall hold any office of trust op 
profit under the laws of this State without devoting his 
personal attention to the duties of the same. 

Sec. 18. The Ijegislature shall provide for deductioma 
from the salaries of public ofi'icers who neglect the per- 
formance of any duty assigned them by law. 

Sec. 19. No Convention nor Legislature of this Stat© 
shall act upon any amendment of the Constitution of the 
United States proposed by Congress to the several States 
unless such Convention or Legislature shall have been 
elected after such amendment is submitted. 

Sec. 20. The Governor and every State officer are here- 
by prohibited from giving certificates of election or other 
credentials to any person as having been elected to the 
House of Representatives of the United States Congress, 
or the United States Senate, who has not been five years 
a citizen of the State and ten years a citizen of the T'nited 
States, and a qualified voter. 

Sec. 21. Deeds and mortgages which have been proved 
for record and recorded according to law, shall be taken 
as prima fac/^* evidence in the courts of this State without 
requiring proof of the execution. A certified copy of the 
record of any deed or mortgage that has been or shall be 
Jtlulv recorded according to law shall be admitted as 



5d 

priuM facie evidence thereof, and of its due execution 
with like effect as the original duly proved ; Provided, It 
be made to appear that the original is not within the cus- 
tody or control of the party offering such copy, 

Sec. 22. The Legislature shall provide for giving to me- 
chanics and laborers an adequate lien on the subject mat- 
ter of their labor. 

Sec. 23. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered 
in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in 
time of war except in the manner prescribed by law. 

Sec. 24. All marriages between a white person and a 
negro, or between a white person and a person of negro 
descent to the fourth generation, inclusive, are hereby 
forever prohibited. 

Sec. 25. The term felony, whenever it may occur in this 
Constitution or in the laws of the State, shall be con- 
strued to mean any criminal offence i>unishable with 
death or imprisonment in the State Penitentiary. 

Sec. 2G. The Legislature may make provision for the 
proper adjustment and settlement of the claim of the cit- 
izens of Ocala againstt he State for certain aid given by 
the town of Ocala for the establishment of the East 
Florida Seminary in 1852, and conditional upon its loca- 
tion at the said town. 

Sec. 27. The Legislature shall appropriate at least five 
hundred dollars each year for the purchase of such books 
for the Supreme Court Library as the Court may direct. 

iSec. 28. The Legislature ^nay provide for the drainage 
of the land of one person over or through that of another, 
upon just compensation therefor to the owner of the land 
over which such drainage is had. 

Sec, 29. Xo private property nor right of way shall be 
appropriated to the use of any corporation or individual 
until full compensation therefor shall be first made to 
the owner, or first secured to him by deposit of mone|f; 
which compensation, irrespective of any benefit from any 
improvement proposed by such corporation or individual, 
shall be ascertained by a jury of tweh-e men in a court of 
competent jurisdiction, as shall be prescribed by law. 

Sec. 30. The Legislature is invested with full power to 
pass laws for the correction of abuses and to prevent nn- 
just discrimination and excessive charges by persons and 



* 60 

corporations engaged as common carriers in transporting 
persons and proi>erty. or performing other services of a 
public nature; and shall provide for enforcing such laws 
by adequate penalties or forfeitures. 

Sec. 31. No railroad or other transportation company 
or common carrier in this State shall grant a free pass, 
or discount the fare paid by the public generally, to any 
member of the Legislature, or to any salaried officer of 
this State, and the Legislature shall prohibit the granting 
or receiving such free pass, or fare at a discount, by suit- 
able penalties. 



ARTICLE XVII. 

AMENDMENTS. 

Section 1. Either branch of the I^-egislature, at a regu- 
lar session thereof, may propose amendments to this (Con- 
stitution ; and if the same be agreed to by three fifths of 
all the members elected to each House, such proposed 
amendments shall be entered upon their i^espective Journ- 
als with the }(Mi» and nays, an^ published in one newspa- 
per in each county where a newspaper is published, for 
three months intniediately x>receding the next general elec- 
tion of Representatives, at which election the saine shall 
be submitted (o the electors of the State, for approval or 
rejection. If a majority of the electors votinsj upon ihe 
amendments ai such election «hall adopt the amendments, 
the same shall become a part of the Tonstitution. The 
proposed amendments shall be so submitted as 1o enable 
the electors to vote on each amendment separately. 

Sec. 2. If a1 any time the Legislature, by a vote of two- 
thirds of all the members of both Houses, shall "^^efermine 
that a revision of this Constitution is necessary, such de- 
termination Siiall be entered upon their respectiv:* Journ- 
als, with the ,^<'as and nays thereon. Notice of said ac- 
tion shall be ]'Ublished weekly in one newspajx^r in every 
county in which a newspaper is published, for three 
months precovling the next general election of Representa- 
tives and in tliose counties where no newspa]>er is pub- 
lished, notice shall be given by posting at the several poll- 



81 ^ 

ing p^e(•inct^J i;i such ronnties for six woeks ufxt preoecling 
«aid election. The electors at sai«l election may vote for 
or ajjainst tbe revision in question. If a majority of the 
elertors so v)(?i>a- ]»o in favor of I'cvision, the Lej>islature 
chosen at ^urh election shall provide by law for a Con- 
Tention to reiise the roustitution. said Convention to be 
held within s>k months after the passage of stich law. 
The Conventioi; shall consist of a number equrl to the 
membership of the House of Representatives, and shall be 
apportioned jimon.o the several counties in the same man- 
ner as members of said House. 



ARTICLE XVIII. 



SCHEDULE. 



Sectioi 1. The Constitution adopted A. D. 18*>i^, with 
amendments thereto, is declared to be superceded by this 
Constitution : Rut all rights, actions, claims and con- 
tracts, both as re«{)ects individuals and bodies corporate, 
shall continue to be as valid as if thij^ Constitution had 
not been adopred. And all fines, taxes, penalties and for- 
feitures due and owing to the State of Florida under the 
Constitution of ISGS, shall inure to the use of the State 
under this C ons-titution. 

Sec. 2. All laws now in force not inconsistent with this 
Constitution shall continue in force until they shall ex- 
pire by thfir own limitation, or be repealed by the Legis- 
lature. 

Sec. o. All persons holding any office or appointment at 
the ratification cf this Constitution shall continue in Ihe 
exercise of the duties thereof, according to their respec- 
tive commissions or appointments, and until their succes- 
sors are duly qualified, unless by this Constitution other- 
wise provided. 

Sec. 4. Nothing contained in this Constitution shall 
operate to vacate the oifice of Lieutenant-Governor until 
the expiration of his present term. 



62 

Sec. 5. All vacancies occurring- bv limitation of u'viiis 
before tlie seiicral election in 18S8 shall be fil!«Hl as j)ro- 
vided for by law nnder the Constitution of ISOS. 

Sec. G. The term of office for all a]»pointees to fill vacan- 
cies in any of ihe elective offices under this Constitution, 
shall extend on\y to the election and qualiflcalion of a 
successor at the ensuinjj; i^jeneral election. • 

Sec. 7. In ail cases of elections to fill vacancies in office 
such election Fhall be for the unexpired term. 

Sec. S. T',t(!n The ratification of this Constitution the 
Commissioner of Lands and Immigi-ation shall assume 
the office of Commissioner of Agricultud'e, and his duties 
as such shall be presctibed by the first Legislature assem- 
bled undei* +his Constitution. 

* Sec. 9. A jreneral electiom shall be held in each county 
in this State on- the first Tuesday after the first I^Ioiwlav 
in Novemlter. A. D. 1808. and every two years thereafter, 
for all ele<-tive State and County officers. whos<^ lernis of 
office are abort to expire, or for any elective off'i<ie that 
shall have bf'come vacant. 

Sec. 10. The first election for County Judge. Clfrk of 
the Circuit Coprt, Sheriff, Tax Assessor. Tax Colle<'tor, 
County Ti'ensurer. County Superintendent of Public In- 
struct*f>n. T'oiiiity Surveyor, Justices of the Pence. Consta- 
bles and all other elective County Officers shell be at the 
general electirni in 1888. 

Sec. 11. Tt :^ha]l be the duty of the President of this 
Convention iiiunediately on its adjonrnment +o certify ia 
the Covernor a copy of this Constitution. 

Sec. 12. T'pon receipt of such certified copy the Cover- 
nar shall forthwith announce the fact by proclamation, to 
be published in such newspapers in this State as Jiiay be 
deemed requisite for general information, and five printed 
copies of such Constitution shall be transmitted by the 
Secretary of State to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and 
five to the ('onnty -Tudge of each county. whi( h shall be 
kept on file ii; their resy)ertive offices for exaiainat'on by 
any person desiring the same. 



Anieiidct] in I8f"!f,. 



Sec. I'ii. A;l Courts as now ov};;uii7,e«l and conslifutcd 
shall continne with their jurisdiction until the T>e<iislar.ure 
shall confonii to the recjuirenients of this ^'oustitution 
the jnrisdiition of such Courts as, under this Constitu- 
tion, are to exercise in whole or in part the jurisdiction of 
Courts now orjianizfd. 

Sec. 14. The terms of office of all County officers, un- 
less otherwise j»)0\ided, shall coninience on the firs; Tues- 
day after the fji-st Monday in January next after Iheir 
election. 



ARTICLE XIX. 



LOCAL orriox. 



Section 1. The K<)ard of Cv»wntv Conimission'^r;"! of ea-h 
county in tl^* State, not oftenep than once in every two 
years, upon The appiij(--ation of one-foarth of the-re^'istered 
voters of any county, shall r«ll and ]»rovide for a» elec- 
tion in tlM' county in which application is made, to decide 
Avhether the s.^le of intoxicatin.£r liquors, wines or heer 
shall be prol-ibited therein, the question to be determined 
by a maioritv vote of those votinjj at the election called 
under this section, which election shall be condurtcd in 
the manner prescribed by law for holding- general elec- 
tions; Provided, That intoxicatino- liquors, either spiritu- 
ous. Ainons, or malt, shall not be sold in any election dis- 
trict in which a majority vote was cast against the same 
at the said election. Elections under this section shall be 
held within sixty days from the time of presontiU'O- said 
ai>plication. but if any such election should th'M^'^bv take 
place within sixty days of any State or National election, 
it shall be held within sixty days after any such State or 
National election. 

Sec. 2. The Legislature shall provide necessai-v l.iws to 
carry out and enforce the provisions of section ano of this 
Article. 



State Political Organization* 



The State of Florida, in the executive depai'tmeut has 
the following- officers, who constitute the cabinet: 

Governor, present incumbent, W. S. Jennings. 

Secretary of State, present incumbent, H. Clay Craw- 
ford. 

Comptroller, present incumbent, A. C. Croom. 

Treasurer, present incumbent, W. Y. Knott. 

Attorney General, present incumbent, W. H. Ellis. 

Superintendent Public Instruction, present incum-ben't, 
W. N. Sheats. 

Commissioner of Agriculture, presnt incumbent, B. E. 
McLin. 

Out of tWse executive and administrative officers, there 
have been created by the Constitution of the State and by 
law from time to tim©, the different boards that have 
charge and control of all public institutions, such aa 
State Asylum and State prisons, public lands, common 
schools, normal schools, Institute for Deaf. Dumb and 
Blind, State Reformatory, Board of Pardons, Board of 
Pensions, Appraisers of railroad property, etc. 

The Board of Commissioners of State Institutions con- 
sist of the Crovernor and the six administrative officers. 
This board has the control and supervision of the State 
Asylum and State Prison. As at present constituted the 
members of the Board are : 

W. S. Jennings, Governor. 

H. Clay Crawford, Secretary of State. 

A. C. Croom, Comptroller. 
W. V. Knott, Treasurer 

W. H. Ellis, Attorney General 

B. K. McLin, Commissioner of Agriculture. 

W. N. Sheats, Superintendent Public Instruction. 



STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. 

The State Board of Education consists of the Governor, 
Secretary of State, Treasurer, Attorney-General and 
State Superintendent of Public Instruction. This board 
has control and supervision of the vi^hite and colored 
Normal schools, the Institute for Deaf, Dumb and Blind, 
all high schools and common schools, and of all school 
and eeminary lands, and execute all deeds to school and 
seminary land. As at present constituted the members 
of the Board are : 

W. S. Jennings, Governor. 

H. Clay Crawford, Secretary of State. 

W. H .Ellis, Attorney General . 

W. V. Nnott, Treasurer. 

W. N. Sheats, Superintendent Public Instruction 

BOARD OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT FUND. 

The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement 
Fund consists of the Governor, Comptroller, Treasurer, 
Attorney General and Commissioner of Agriculture. It 
has control, sale and disposition of all lands granted to 
the State of Florida by act of Congress of September 4, 
1841, known as the "Internal Improvement Act," which 
granted to each State and Territory 500,000 acres of land 
for internal improvements, and ail lands granted the 
State by the act of Congress of September 28, 1850, known 
as the "Swamp Land Act." This board executes all 
deeds and contracts relating to the lands above mention- 
ed. As at present constituted the members of the Board 
are: 

W. S. Jennings, Governor. 

A. C. Croom, Comptroller. 
W. V. Knott, Treasurer. 

B. E. McLin, Commissioner of Agriculture. 
W. H. Ellis, Attorney General. 

PARDONING BOARD. 

The Board of Pardons consists of the Governor, Secre- 
tary of State, Comptroller, Attorney General and Com- 
5H. F. 



66 

missioner of Agriculture. The duty of this board is to 
grant pardons and commutation of sentence to all per- 
sons convicted of any offense against the laws of the 
State. In any case coming l)efore this board^ no pardon 
or commutation of sentence can be granted unless three of 
of the board are favorable to it, and in every case the 
Governor must be one of the three in favor of the pardon 
or commutation. As at present constituted the membei's 
of the Board are : 

W. S. Jennings, Governor. 

H. Clay Crawford, Secretary of State. 

W. H. Ellis, Attorney General. 

A. O. Croom, Comptroller. 

B. E. McLin, Commissioner of Agricultur-e . 

BOARD OF FINANCE. 

This Board sonsists of the Governor, Comptroller and 
Treasurer, and is authorized to deposit the State's monies 
subject to call in such banks in the State as will offer the 
best inducements as to interest and security. The meth- 
od of making such deposits is jnescribed by law. As at 
present constituted the members of the Board are: 

W. S. Jennings. Governor. 

A. C. Croom, Comptroller. 

W. V. Knott, Treasurer, 

STATE CANVASSING BOARD. 

This Boaid consists of the Secretary of State, Comp- 
troller and Attorney General. The duty of this Board 
is to meet and canvass the returns of all general and spec- 
ial State elections and declare the result. The method of 
procedure is prescribed by law. As at present constituted 
the members of the Board are : 

H. Clay Crawford, Secretary of State. 

A. C. Croom, Comptroller. 

W. H. Ellis, Attorney General. 

BOARD OF PENSIONS. 

The Board of Pensions consists of the Governor. Comp- 
ti'oller and Attorney General. The duty of this Board is 
to examine into the claims of all disabled Confederate 



f7 

Boldiers uud sailorn, an dof widows of deceasod Confed- 
erate soldiers and sailors, and if found entitled to the 
pension to award what shall be paid to each pensioner 
per annum. As at present constituted the members of 
the Board are: 

W. S. Jennings, Governor. 

A. C Croom, Comptroller. 

W. H. Ellis, Attorney General . 

BOARD FOK t^rECIAL ASSESSMENT PURPOSES. 

The duty of this Board is to approve or assess railroads 
and railroad property. Jn case the railroad authoritiea 
in this State fail to make returas of their property for 
taxation, the Comptroler, Ti-easurer and Attorney Gen- 
eral have power to assess the same. As at present consti- 
tuted the mendjers of this Hoard are: 

A. C. Croom, Comptroller. 
W. V. Knott, Treasurer. 

W. H. Ellis, Attorney (ieneral. 

STATE REFORM SCHOOL BOARD. 

This Board consists of the Governor, Attorney Gen- 
eral and Commissioner of Agriculture. The duty of this 
Board is advisory, and audits the accounts of the Com- 
missioners of State Reform School. As at present consti- 
tuted the members of this Board are : 

W. S. Jennings, Governor. 

W. H. Ellis, Attorney General. 

B. E. McLin, Commissioner of Agriculture. 

COMMISSIONER OF STATE REFORM SCHOOL. 

This Commission is closely allied to the State Reform 
School Board. Its duty is to superintend and manage 
the reformatory school, to appoint a superintendent, and 
minor officials of the school, and to report to the Legisla- 
ture biennially, and to the Governor when the Legislature 
is not in session. Other duties are also prescribed by 
law. As at present constituted the mend)ers of this Com- 
mission are: 



68 

J. C. L'Engle, JackiSOiiviHe. 

W. H. Miitou, Mariaiina. 

M. L. Dekle, MariaDua. 

L. J. Reeves^ DeFuniak Springs. 

W. L. Palmer, Orlando. 

STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER. 

The State Treasurer is Insurance Commissioner of the 
State. His duties as such are prescribed by law. 

DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, 

The Commissioner of Agriculture is salesman of all State 
and school lands, and has the control of all maps, patents, 
and i-ecords of deeds, and ail books relative to land 
entries of every kind. He also has immediate supervision 
of the State convicts under the direction of the Board of 
State Institutions. He has the direction of all matters 
coming before the department on subjects relating to 
agriculture, and is required to keep the Bureau of Immi- 
gration, exercise general supervision of the State Chemi- 
cal Laboratory, and control the sale of commercial ferti- 
lizers, either manufactured in or imported into the State; 
the immediate operations of the State Laboratory are con- 
ducted by a State Chemist, who is appointed by the Gov- 
ernor for a term of four years. The present State Chem- 
ist Capt. R. E. Rose, of Kissimmee. Other duties of the 
Commissioner of Agriculture are prescribed by law. 

All of the foregoing boards have a secretary. The 
present secretary of the Board of State Instituons, Board 
of Pensions, and Board of Pardons is Mr. C. H. Dicken- 
son, who is also Private Secretary to the Governor. 

The Secretary of the State Board of Education is the 
State Superintendent of Public Instruction, he is the 
secretary ex-officio by virtue of his office. 

The Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Internal 
Improvement Fund is W. M. Mcintosh, Jr., who is also 
Treasurer of the Board. 

THE STATE MILITIA. 

The Governor is Commander-in-Chief of the militia, ex- 
ceut when it is in the actual service of the United States. 
The Adjutant General is appointed by the Governor, and 



69 

is his chief of staff. His duties are to direct and control 
the military affairs and- organization of the Btate. His 
rank is that of a Major General. There is also a Quarter- 
master General, a Commissary General, a Judge Advocate 
General, a Chief of Ordinance, a Surgeon General, an 
Inspector of Small Arms Practice, and Assistant Adju- 
tant G<?neral, each with the rank of Colonel, and a Kaval 
Secretary with the naval rank of Captain. This Board 
is designated by law as the General Staff. The i)resent 
Adjutant General is J. Clifford R. Foster. His duties :ire 
further prescribed by law. 

OTHER BOARDS. 

Besides the boards onsisting of the executive and ad- 
ministrative officers, there are various other State boards 
and commissions which have important duties to perform, 
as follows: 

STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. 

The duty of this Board is to look after public health, 
establish and abolish quarantine, and do all things possi- 
ble to prevent the spread, if in the State, of all contagious 
or infectious diseases. The present Board consists of the 
following: 

E. M. Hendry, Tampa. 

N. B. Broward, Jacksonville. 

Horace L. Simpson, Pensacola. 

State Health Officer, Dr. J. Y. Porter of Jacksonville. 
He is the Secretary exofficio of the State Board, and iB 
its executive officer. 

RAILROAD COMMISSION. 

The duties of this Board are similar to the duties of the 
Railroad Commission of other States. At present the 
Commission consists of: 

Jefferson B. Browne, Key West. 

R. Hudson Burr, Miami. 

John L. Morgan, Jasper. 

The Secretary of this Board is Royal C. Dunn, Madi- 
son. 



COMMI^TON UNIFORMITY OF LEGISLATION. 

The duty of this Board is tlie .same as that of similar 
boards in other States for like purpose. The members pf 
the present Board are: 

B. W. Williams, TalUihassee. 
John 0. Avery, Pensacola. 
Louis C. Massey, Orlando. 

FISH COMMISSION. 

The duty of this Board is to look after the fish and 
oyster interests of the State, see that the laws controlling 
'the catching of fish and oysters are complied with, and 
such other duties as are prescribed by law. As at preir 
ent constituted, the members of the Board are: 

John Y. Detwiler, President, New Smyrna. 

John G . Kugc. Apalachicola. 

C. R. Walker, Sanford. 

■— =i ,■* 

STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY. 

The duties of this Board is to examine certain persona 
desiring to conduct the business of selling at retail, com- 
pounding and dispensiDiSf medicine, or compounding or 
dispensing chemicals for medical purposes or for com- 
pounding or dispensing physicians prescriptions, and if 
such persons are found competent and duly qualified to 
conduct such business, to issue certificates to that effect. 
As at present constituted the members of the Board are : 

E. Berger, Tampa. 

H. C. Brown, Ocala. 

J. D. Palmer, Monticello- 

Leon Hale, Tampa. 

H. A. D'Alemberte, Pensacola. 

BOARDS OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS. 

In each judicial circuit in this State the Governor ap- 
points a Board of Medical Examiners, consisting of three 
practicing physicians of known ability, who shall be 
graduates of a medical college recognized by the Ameri- 
can Medical Association, and they must also be in good 



71 

standing of such medical college, and each must also be 
a resident of the judicial district for which appointed. 
Their duties are prescribed by law. The following are 
the members of the several boards, by judicial districtji: 

FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICI. 

D. W. McMillan, Pensacola. 
Lonis DeM. Blocker, Pensacola. 
Ed. F. Bruce, Pensacola. 

SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT. 

George H. Gwynn, Tallahassee. 

{Vacant.) 

O. W. Lamar, Quincy . 

THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT. 

J. A. Townsend, Lake City. 
T. S. Anderson, Live Oak. 
A. L. Blalock, Madison. 

FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT. 

Neal Mitchell, Jacksonville. 
J. H. Durkee, Jacksonville. 
Vacant.) 

FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT. 

Owing to change in district boundaries, this Board W3» 
thrown otit, and have not at thia writing been reappointed. 

SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, 

liOuis A. Rize, Tampa. 
C. Sweeting, Key West. 
F. M. Wilson, Bartow. 



: 72 

SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT. 

N. DeV, Howard, Sanford . 
H. K. DuBois^ Port Orange. 
R. L. Harris, Orlando. 

EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT. 

John C. Wills, Starke. 

Geo. E. Wekh, Palatka. 

J. F. McKinsti'y, GainesvilKe. 

HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL EXAMINERS. 

This is a Board for the State at large and consists of 
three homeopathic physicians of known ability, and grad- 
uates in good standing from some medical college recog- 
nized by the American Institute of Homeopathy. The 
membei's of the present Board are: 

Henry R. Stout, Jacksonville. 

C. W. Johnson, Jacksonville. 
H. M. Bruce, Tampa. 

ECLECTIC MEDICAL EXAMINERS. 

This Board also consists of three members who must 
come up to the same stand of requirements as the pre- 
ceeding Board. At pr-esent the Board consists of: 

G. P. Morris, DeFuniak Springs. 

D. E. Saxon, Tampa. 

Hiram Hampton, Jr. , , 

STATE BOARD OF DENTAL EXAMINERS. 

It is the duty of this Board to examine into the qualifi- 
cations of all persons who desire to practice dentistry in 
this State, and to issue certificates to those who are found 
competent to practice dentistry. The present Koard con- 
gists of five members, as follows : 

R. A. Shine, Tallahassee. 

W. G. Mason. Tampa. 

Sanford W. Allen, Tampa. 

F. B. Hannah, Sr., Umatilla. 

E. M. Sanderson, Jacksonville. ! 



FLORIDA STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE, 
Dr. V. H. Gwinn, Superintendent, Chattahoochee. 
BLIND, DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTE. 

W. B. Hare, Superintendent, St. Augustine. 

Trustees — J. W. Estes, St. Augustine; J. M. N. Pea- 
cock, Pine Mount; H. J. Drane, Lakeland; W. A. Wil- 
liams, St. Augustine; J. M. Reaves, Gainesville. 

SOUTH FLORIDA MILITARY COLLEGE. 

E. M. Law, Superintendent, Bartow. 

Trustees— r. O. Knight, Tampa; R. O. Cresap, Lake- 
land; A. W. Gilchrist, Punta (lorda; E. W. Codington, 
Bartow; W. W. Flournoy, DeFuniak Springs. 

FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE. 

A. A. Murphi^eo, President, Tallahassee. 

Trustees — J. W. Malone. Quincy ; John L. Neeley, Tal- 
lahassee; W. A. Rawls, Tallahassee; Jno. A. Henderson, 
Tallahassee; T. L. Clark. Monticello; John Neil, West- 
Yille; William Miller, Point Washington. 

EAST FLORIDA SEMINARY. 

G. M. Guillianis, tSuperintendent, Gainesville. 

Trustees— D. H. Baker, Oralige Home J J. D. Wat- 
)iin8, Micanopy; G. W. Hyde, Gainesville; T. V. Porter, 
Gainesville; C. P. Lovell. Jacksonville; J. W. Watson, 
Kissimmee, C. M. Brown, Ocala. 

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. 

T. F. Taliaferro, PresideTit, Lake City. 

C. A. Finley, Siecretary, Lake City. 

Trustees — E. D, Beggs. Pen.sacola ; G. W. Wilson, 
Jacksonville; F, E. Harris, Ocala; C. A. Carson, Kig- 
Bimmee; F. M. Simonton, Tampa; Fred S. Stringer, Ar- 
cadia; J. R. Parrot, Jacksonville. 



.74 ..^,.^.^...1 

8TATE NORMAL SCHOOL. 
H. E. Bennett, President. DeFuniak Springs. 

STATE NORMAL AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL. 

Colored. 

N. B. Young, President, Tallahassee. 

THE JUDICIARY. 

Organization of the Courts. 

The judicial power of the State of Florida is vested in a 
Supreme Court, eight Circuit Courts, County Criminal 
Courts, County Judges, and Justices of the Peace. The 
Supreme Court consists of six justices, elected by the 
qualified electors of the State. This court formerly con- 
sieted of three justices, but an amendment to the Constitu- 
tion adopted at the election in 1902 increased the number 
to six justices. The full term of a justice is six years, so 
that now two justices are elected every two years; the 
term of each l>egins on the first Tuesday after the first 
Monday in January after their election. The Chief Justice 
is designated by lot by the Justices composing the Court, 
and he shall be such during his term of office. In cases 
ol vacancy by death, resignation or otherwise, the Gover- 
nor fills the vacancy by appointmeut until the next gen- 
eral election, when such vacancy is filled by election. 
The Justice elected at such election only holds to the ex- 
piration of the same term *^ the Justice whose place he 
succeeds to. The powers of the Supreme Court of this 
State are in general ih<» sameas those of the high^ 
appellate court in any State in the Union. As at present 
constituted, the members of the Court are: 

B, Fenwipk Taylor. Chief Jostice. 
W. A. Hocker Associate Justice. 
Francis B. Carter, Associate Justice. 
Thos. M. Shackleford, Associate Justice. 
Bobt. S. Cockrell, Associate Justice. 
James B. Whitfield. Associate Juatice. 



75 :vi 

CIRCUIT COURTS. 

The Circuit Court Judges are appointed by the Gover- 
Bor and confirmed by the Senate for a term of six years. 
All vacancies, from whatever cause, are filled by appoint- 
ment by the Governor for the unexpired terra. Each ju- 
dicial circuit has a State Attorney, who represents the 
State in all civil and criminal cases. This officer corre- 
sponds to that of Solicitor or Prosecuting Attorney ia 
other states. The term of office is four years. The ap- 
pointment of State Attorney is made by the Governor and 
confirmed by the Senate. The present Circuit Judges 
and States Attorneys by districts are as follows : 

FIRST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. 

C. B. Parkhill, Pensacola. 

J. Waltei* Kehoe, State Attorney, Marianna. 

8EC0ND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. 

John W. Malone, Quincy. - 

George W. Walker, State Attorney, Tallahasaee. 

THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. 

B. H. Palmer, Lake City. 

L. E. Roberson, State Attorney, Lake City. 

FOURTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. 

R. M. Call, Jacksonville. 

A. G. Hartrid(ge, State Attorney, Jacksonville. 

FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. 

W. 8. Bullock, Ocala. 

Neil L. Allred, State Attorney, Gainesville. 

SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. 

Joseph B. Wall, Tampa. 

H. 8. Phillii)8, State Attorney, Tampa. 



'<'6 ] 

BEVEJsTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. 

Minor R. Jones. Titusville. 

James D. Beggs, State Attorney, Orlando. 

EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. 

J. T. Wills, Starke. 

B. P. Calhoun, State Attorney, Palatka. 

COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS. 

The Constitution of the State permits the Legislature^ 
when a majority of the registered voters of a county ap- 
jjly for such court, to establish county criminal courts of 
record. The judge of this court is appointed by the Gov- 
ernor, and confirmed by the Senate. The terra of office is 
four years. Each County Criminal Court has a prosecut- 
ing attorney, appointed by the Governor and confirmed 
by the Senate, for four years. 

The Legislature of ^Florida has power to organize in 
any county it may think proper, county courts which 
shall have jurisdiction in cases at law where the amount 
is five hundred dollars, of foricble entry and unlawful de- 
tainer of lands or tenements, and criminal jurisdiction as 
to misdemeanors, and final appellate jurisdiction in civil 
cases arising in the courts of justices of the peace. The 
county judge is the judge of this court. This court has a 
prosecuting attorney. Both judge and attorney are 
elected by the people and hold their term for four years. 

Each county in this State has a county judge e^lected by 
the people for a term of four years. He has full probate 
jurisdiction, has original jurisdiction in cases at law to 
the amount of one hundred dollars, of proceedings relat- 
ing to forcible entry and unlawful detainer of lands and 
tenements and such criminal jurisdiction as the Leg'sla- 
ture may prescribe. He has the power of a committing 
magistrate and issues all licenses required by law. 

Each county in this State is divided into justice dis- 
tricts. No county has less than two such districts. The 
^unty Commissioners have power to create or divide off 
the justice districts. Justices of the Peace are elected by 
the people of their respective districts and hold their of- 



77 

fice for four years. The executive officer of a court of a 
Justice of the Peace is a constable, who is elected by the 
voters of the district in which he lives. He holds his of- 
fice for four years. Vacancies in the offices of County 
Judge, Justice of the Peace or Constable are filled by ap- 
pointment by the Governor, ^uch appointees hold until 
the next general election. 

COUNTY OFFICERvS, OTHER THAN JUDICIAL. 

Each county has a Sheriff, a board of five County Com- 
missioner's, Tax Collector, Tax Assessor, Treasurer, Coun- 
ty Superintendent of Public Instruction, and a County 
School Board, and a Supervisor of Registration. 

Each Board of County Commissioners has an Auditor, 
who is also clerk of the Circuit Court in each county. 
The County Superintendent of Public Instruction is also 
secretary of the County School Board. The duty of each 
of the above officials and boards are prescribed by law. 

LEGISLATIVE. 

The Legislature of the State of Florida consists of a 
Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate has 
thirty-two members, one-half of which are elected every 
two years. They are elected by districts for the term of 
four years. The House consists of sixty-eight members, 
who are elected from counties of which they are qualified 
voters. Representatives hoi dtheir office for two years. 

The Legislature ia the law making power, and has about 
the same powers, duties and prerogatives as the Legisla- 
ture of other States in the Union. No act becomes opera- 
tive until sixty days after its approval by the Governor, 
unless it is so expressed in the act. 

If the Legislature is in session, the Governor must 
either sign or veto any bill passed by both houses and 
properly enrolled and delivered to him within five days af- 
ter its final passage, or it becomes a law without his signa- 
ture. If the Legislature has adjournerl, the Governor has 
ten days in which to sign or veto a bill before it becomes 
a law. In case the Governor vetoes a bill, he returns it 
to the House in which it originated with his reasons for 



not signing it. If two-thirds of each house vote that the 
bill pass, the Governor's veto to the contrary notwith- 
standing, the bill becomes a law. 

The House of Representatives has sole power of im- 
peachment, but it requires i\ two-thirds vote of all mem- 
bers present to impeach any officer. The State Senate 
Bits as a court of imi>eachment, and the Chief Justice i)re- 
fiides. In case he is impeached the Governor presides. 



State Finances. 



No State in the Union has a better financial standing 
than Florida. The bonded debt of the State, amounting 
in the aggregate to $G01,5G7, is controlled by the State 
in its educational funds. There is no floating debt. The 
warrants issued by the Comptroller for the current ex- 
penses of the State are accepted at par everywhere, and 
they are promptly paid by the Treasurer upon presenta- 
tion. All of the State funds have sufficient money to 
meet all proper demands upon them. The general rev- 
enue fund, from which all appropriations are paid, had 
to its credit on January 1, 1904, $209,068.58. The State 
tax levy for general revenue purposes is one and one half 
mills. 

The entire bonded debt of Florida consists of $267,700 
of three per cent, refunding bonds, issued in 1901, in ex- 
change for an equal amount of matured seven i)er cent 
bonds of 1871, and |333,867. of three per cent, refunding 
bonds issued in 1903 in exchange for an equal amount of 
matured one per cent, bonds of 1873, making the total 
bonded debt of the State |601,567, or not over one dol- 
lar per capita. 

INTEREST ON STATE DEBT PAID IN 1903. 

Paid Interest to State School Fund |25,6i2 50 

Paid Interest to Agricultural College Fund. . 6,052 50 

Paid Interest to Seminary Fund 4,122 00 

Paid Interest to Individuals 4.920 00 



Total Interest on State Debt Paid in 1903. .f 40,707 00 



79 

The i-efuudiug of the 7 per cent, bonds of 1871 and the 
6 per cent, bonds of 187;:i in '4 per cent, bonds, in accord- 
ance with the provisions of Chapter 41)47, Acts of 1901, 
has materially reduced the annual payments of interest. 
Prior to January 1, 1901, the annual interest on the 
bonded debt of Florida was $G4,G27.(i(), while in 1904 and 
subsequent 3-ears it will amount to but |18,047.01. This 
will be a saving to the taxpayers of Florida of $46,579.99 
per annum, owing to the payment and cancellation of a 
portion of the bonds issued under the Act of February 21, 
1873, Chapter 1937, and the refunding of the remainder of 
the bonds comprising said issue, and the refunding of all 
of the bonds issued under Chapter 1833, Acts of 1871. 
All of said refunding bonds bear a lower rate of interest 
than did the bonds for which they were exchanged. 

The University of Florida (formerly the Agricultural 
College) has a permanent investment of $153,800.00 of 
which $135,800.00 are in Florida 3 per cent, refunding 
bonds and $18,000.00 in North Carolina 4 and G per cent, 
bonds. 

The common school fund of Florida has as invest- 
ments in bonds $242,800.00 of Florida 3 per cent, refund- 
ing bonds of 1901, $125,30/. 00 of Florida 3 per cent, re- 
funding bonds of 1903 and $599,000.00 of the bonds of 
other States, making a total investment in bonds of 
$907,107.00. 

The East and West Florida Seminaries (the latter 
now known as the Florida State College) have a perma- 
nent investment of $121,500.00, of which $97,000.00 is in 
Florida 3 per cent, refunding bonds and the remainder 
in bonds of other States. 

STATE SCHOOL FUND INVESTMENTS. 

r • 

L 

The laws of Florida limit the State Board of Educa- 
tion in investing moneys belonging to the Principal of 
the State School Fnnd to the purchase of United States 
or State bonds, all of which are high-priced and contin- 
ually fluctuating in value. In order, therefore, to protect 
the fund, it is necessary to employ the utmost caution 
and business prudence in making these investments. 

The additions to the Principal of the State School 
Fund during the vear have been from the sale of school 



80 

Jands, from the receipt of |88,3G2.11. under Chapter 5117. 
Acts of 1903, from the Indian War Claims Fund, the sama 
being the amount due the State of Florida for five per 
cent, of land sales in the State under an Act of Congress 
approved March 3, 1845, but withheld from the State 
until the settlement was effected of the mutual claims 
between the United States and the State of Florida under 
-an Act of Congress approved May 27, 1902, and from the 
redemption of Florida six per cent, bonds of the issue of 
1873 held by this fund, in pursuance of Chapter 5118, 
Acts of 1903, the bonds so paid and redeemed aggregat- 
ing $281,933.00, all of which matured January 1, 1903. 
The receipts of the principal in the State School Fund 
appear in tabular form below, from which it will be seen 
that the balance on hand January 1st, 1903, aggregated 
the sum of $•401,572.21. 

PRINCIPAL OF STATE SCHOOL FUND. 

Receipts in 1903. 

1903. 

Jan. 1 — Balance as per Report $ 2,000 62 

Mar. 7 — Received from the United States 
Govt. 5 per cent, on Land Sales for 
the year ending June 30, 1902 154 73 

June 27— Comptroller's Warrant No. 1264 
transferring amount due this Fund 
from Indian War Claims Fund, 
(Chap. 5117, Acts of 1903) 88,362 11 

July 17— Comptroller's Warrant Nq. 1622 
from Indian War Claims Funds to 
redeem and cancel Florida 6 per 
cent, bonds held by this Fund, 
(Chap. 5118, Acts of 1903) 118,700 00 

Aug. 5 — Refunded on account of overdraft 

on purchase of bonds 1 18 

Sept. 30— Comptroller's Warrant No. 2187, 
from Indian War Claim Fund for 
payment on Cons. Fla. bond No. 
3 ($288,600) held by this Fund 
(Chap. 5118, Acts of 1903) 163,233 00 

Dec. 31— Land Sales During the Year 89,123 57 

$461,575 21 



gl 
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT. 

The State received during the year 1903, through 
licenses and commissions on premiums collected in the 
Treasurer's office, from insurance and surety companies 
doing business in the State the following sums: 

For Company Licenses $18,050 00 

For Agent's Licenses 11,167 50 

For Commissions on Premiums 37,006 96 

Making a total of $66,224 46 

This is an increase of |8,678.35 over the collections in 
1902 

6 H. F. j 



The State*s Resources, Wealth, Debt 
and Taxation, 



The following compilation of facts from the books of 
the Comptroller's Department will give a clear and con- 
vincing idea of the material and financial condition of 
the State, its desirability as a location for remunerative 
investments, and for homes for every individual of en- 
ergy and thrift. 

The rate of taxation levied in the year A. D. 1902 for 
general revenue to pay the appropriations for the cur- 
rent expenses of the State and for interest on the bonded 
debt was two and one-half (2|) mills, and the tax rate 
levied for the same purpose for the year A. D, 1903, was 
one and one-half (ij) mills, a reduction of one mill. 

The State tax rate for all purposes as authorized bj 
the legislature is six and one-half (6^) mills, as followe: 
General revenue to pay the appropriations for 
the current expenses of the State and for inter- 
est on the bonded debt 3 millB 

State School Tax 1 mill 

Pension Tax 2 mills 

Board of Health Tax i mill 

Total 6^ mills 

The tax rate levied for each of the different State pur- 
poses for the years A. D. 1902 and A. D. 1903, was as 
follows : 

1902 1903 

General revenue to pay the appropria- 
tions for current expenses and in- 
terest on bonded debt, as reduced hy 

Governor 2| mills 1\ mills 

State School Tax. fixed by Constitu- 
tion 1 mill 1 mill 

Pension Tax. increased in 1903 hy Leg- 
islature 1 mill 2 mills 



83 

Board of Health Tax, fixed bv Statute. 

no authority to reduce ^ mill h mill 

Total r> mills 5 uiills 

It will he seen from the above that the (Jeneral Reve- 
nue Tax, in connection with which the Covernor was 
vested with discretion, was reduced in A. I). UWA, one 
mill below the rate to which it was reduced by him for 
A. D. 1002. thus reducing,' to that extent the amount to 
be collected from the tax payers to meet the current ex- 
penses of the State and pay the interest on the bonded 
debt. The fact that the total tax rate for A. D. 190:? is 
the same as that levied for A, D. 1902, is due to an in- 
crease by the Lejjislature of one mill on account of the 
Pension Tax. which was ren<iered necessary by the ad- 
ditions to the roll of pensioners. While the Goveiuor 
was vested by the Lejjislature with power to reduce the 
pension tax, it would have caused great hardship for 
44 him to have done so. Such a reduction would have necessi- 
tated a pro rata reduction of the amount fixed by law to 
be paid to pensioners and thereby defeated the purpose 
of the Legislature that the stipulated amount should be 
paid to each pensioner as the law directs. 

The State School Tax is fixed by the Constitution and 
is not subject to change by legislative or executive ac- 
tion. The tax rate for the State Board of Health is 
greater than necessary under the existing conditions, but 
it is fixed by law and no discretion is given the Governor 
in reference thereto. 

It was possible to reduce the tax rate for General Rev- 
enue puiqioses in spite of the fact that the Legislature of 
A. D. 1901. appropriated about |328,000.00 for extraor- 
dinary purposes. (Enlarging Capitol, Educational Insti- 
tutions, etc.) and the I>egislature of A. D. 1903. appro- 
priated for like extraordinary purposes about |444,000.00 
(Educational Institutions, Uniform System of County 
High Schools, etc.,) payable from the money derived 
from taxation for the General Revenue Fund, from 
which the regular current expenses and interest on the 
State debt are paid. 



84 

FINANCIAL CONDITION. 

There is every reason for our citizens to be gratified 
with the present financial condition of the State. The 
bonded debt has been reduced until the indebtedness only 
amounts to |601,5(>7.00 in three per cent, bonds issued 
under the Act of 1901, and they are alll held by the Edu- 
cational Funds of the State as follows: 

State School Fund : 

Bond of 1901 $242,800 00 

Bond of 1903 125,367 00— $368,167 00 

State Seminary Fund : 

Bond of 1901 $ 21,000 00 

Bond of 1903 76,600 00—$ 97,600 00 

Agricultural College Fund: 

Bond of 1901 $ 3,900 00 

Bond of 1903 131,900 00— $135,800 00 



$601,567 00 
No other indebtedness of any kind exists and all legal 
claims are promtly paid upon presentation. There is an 
aggregate balance of $507,661.40 in the State Treasury, 
of which $269,068.58 is to the credit of General Revenue 
Fiind to meet current expenses. The tax rate for this 
purpose is the lowest, with perhaps one or two exceptions, 
of any of the States in the Union. 

The only true basis of a sound financial condition is 
that the income must exceed the expenditures and) the 
figures show that this has been accomplished. 

It should be borne in mind that this satisfactory condi- 
tion has not been brought about at the sacrifice of any 
material interest of the State, but on the contrary, lib- 
eral provisions has been made for each branch of the 
government, educational institutions have been fostered 
and unfortunates cared for in the most substantial man- 
ner- consistent with a due regard for the welfare of the 
whole people. 

PENSIONS. 

The Legislature of A. D. 1903 made liberal provision 
for the payment of pensions and remedied serious defects* 
that existed prior to that time in the law relative to pen- 



8r. 

sions to widows. This will insure the prompt payment 
of pensions allowed nnder the law and admits many most 
deserving widows to the pension roll who have heretofore 
been denied this right, for the reason thatt he law did not 
provide therefor. 

The number of pensioners has increased from 1,675 in 
1902 to 2,700 in 1903. A large number of these are wid- 
ows who were admitted under the Act of 1903. 

Warrants in payment of pensions are issued quarterly 
and the present number of pensioners will require over 
ten thousand warrants to be issued each jear for this 
purpose alone. 

INCREASE IN VALUATION. 

In A. D. 1898 the assessed valuation of all taxable prop- 
erty was 193,900,823.75 and in A. D. 1900 the valuation 
had increased to |96,686,954.00, a gain of $2,786,130.25, 
or nearly three million dollars. 

During the same period of time from A. D. 1901 to A. 
D. 1903, the assessed valuation of the taxable property 
increased from $97,551,192.00 to $111,333,735.00, an in- 
crease of $13,782,543.00, or nearly fourteen million dol- 
lars. This shows very satisfactory progress, particularly 
in the latter period, which is beneficial to the tax payer 
as the tax rate is based on the valuation of the property. 
A higher valuation means a reduced tax rate andi less 
taxes to be collected upon each dollar of the assessed 
value of property. 

STATE BANKS. 

During the past year four new banks were authorized 
to commence business and four more filed applications 
for charters that will doubtless be granted within the 
next thirty days. This will be a gain of eight banks within 
a short period of time. One bank (Leesburg and County 
State Bank at Leesburg) is in voluntary liquidation. 
There has been no failure during the past year. The 
State banks generally are in fine condition and deserve the 
confidence they have inspired. 



8rt 

HIRE OF STATE CONVICTS. 

The amount distributed to the several counties 
from the proceeds of the hire of State con- 
victs for nine months of the year A. D. 

1903, was $120,571 85 

The amount apportioned for distribution to 
the several counties for the last quarter of 

the year A. D. 1903, is 40,000 0« 

Making the total for year A. D. 1«03 $160,571 85 

This is an income to the counties that is not derived 
from taxation and in many instances is more than suffi- 
cient to pay all the costs of criminal prosecution charg- 
able against the counties, thus avoiding the levy of any 
taxes for that purpose. 

recp:ipts and disbursements. 

At the state Treasury for the Year Ending December 
3l8t, 1903. 

RECEIPTS. 

Aggregate balance in the State 

Treasurv January l«t, 1903 $1,092,458 26 

Oeneral Revenue Fund 740,721 20 

State School 1 Mill Tax f\ind 103,995 43 

Pension Tax Fund 122,901 56 

State Board of Health Fund. 50,492 44 
State School Fund, Principal 450,574 59 
State School Fund, Interest. 130,134 94 

Seminary Fund, Interest 4,122 00 

Seminarv Fund, Principal... 22,757 33 
Hire of 'state Convict Fund. 156,687 78 
Slate Property Fund 12,450 00—^1,803,837 27 



$2,896,295 53 



DISBURSEMENTS. 



General Revenue Fund $699,694 88 

State School 1 Mill Tax Fund 99,785 50 

Pension Tax Fund 178,620 42 

State Board of Health p\ind. 28,365 55 



87 . .:! 

state School Fund, Principal 403,079 28 

State School Fund, Interest. 132,669 32 

Seminary Fund, Interest 4,122 00 

Seminary Fund, Trincipal . . . 23,615 25 

Hire of State Convict Fund.. 129,073 64 

Indian War Claim Fund 658,093 29 

State Property Fund 31,515 00—12,388,634 IS 



$ 507,661 40 

Distributed among the different funds as follows: 

General Revenue Fund $269,068 58 

State School 1 Mill Tax Fund 12,661 72 

Pension Tax P^ind 7,895 06 

State Board of Health Fund. 43,655 49 

State School Fund, Principal 58,495 93 

Seminary Fund, Principal ... 54 84 

State School Fund, Interest. . 15,360 10 

Indian War Claim Fund 34,852 71 

Hire of State Convict Fund . . 65,616 97 



f 507,661 4« 
TAXABLE VALUATIONS COMPARED. 

The following table is specially worthy of note as it 
shows the verj' gratifying increase in valueations of 
property of nearly $14,000,000 in two years; it also dis- 
closes the fact that of the increase above stated, over 
18,000,000 of it or about 69 per cent was in improved 
values of real property, and all this at a reduced tax 
rate. 

The valuation of all property subject to taxation at 
assessed for each of the past three vearg is as follows: 

1901 1 97,551,192 00 

1902 103,047,937 00 ' 

1903 111,333,735 00 

Divided among the different classes of property as fol* 
lows : 



! 88 

ASSESSED VALUATION OP REAL ESTATE. 

1901 1 60,060,758 00 

1902 63,615,667 00 

1903 68,247,312 00 . 

ASSESSED VALUATION OF PERSONAL PEOPEETT. 

1901 $ 17,844,822 00 

1902 19,116,406 00 

1903 20,936,608 00 

ASSESSED VALUATION OF RAILEOADS. 

1901 f 19,383,482 00 

1902 20,045,795 00 

1903 21,861,860 00 

ASSESSED VALUATION OF TELEGRAPH LINES. 

1901 1262,130 00 

1902 270,069 00 

1903 287,955 00 

The increase in the assessment of 1903, as compared 
■with the assessment for 1901 is distributed among the 
different classes of property ae follows: 

Real Estate .f 8,186,554 00 

Personal Property 3,091,786 00 

Bailroads 2,478,378 00 

Telegraph IJnes 25,825 00 

113,782,543 00 



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Public Land System of the State. 



How Acquired, Character, Terms of Purchase, 
and Methods of Disposing of Them* 



All public lands of the State of Florida were derived 
from tlie General Government by Acts of Congress at va- 
rious times for certain purposes. When Florida was ad- 
mitted into the Union as a State by Act of March 3rd, 
1845, the system of survey adopted was that of township 
and range, every township being sub-divided into 36 
sections, numbered consecutively from one to 3G, each sec- 
tion one mile square, and containing as near as possible 
640 acres. This act provided that the sixteenth section 
in each township should be given to the State for the 
purpose of ( reatirg a fund for the establishment and sup- 
port of a system of common schools. When for any rea- 
son there was no 16th section available in a township, as 
for instance where such section had been previously dis- 
posed of by the government, or where the said section was 
covered by a former grant or gift from some former for- 
eign power prior to the acquisition of the State by the 
United States, an equal amount of land is given either in 
the same or somr other township, in place of the six- 
teenth section previously disposed of. These are known 
as school indemnity lands. It is estimated that the total 
amount of lands granted to Florida by the Act of Con- 
gress of 1845, for this purpose amounts at the present 
time to about 1,000,000 acres. There yet remains about 
one hundred townships tliat have never been surveyed, so 
that the real landed area of the State is not definitely 
known. 

SEMINARY LANDS. 

There was also granted to the State by the Art of March 
3rd, 1845, the sum of 92,160 acres of land for the special 



101 

piu-pose of Gstabli shins two seniiuaiies of Ipdrniug in the 
State, one to be located east and one west of the Suwan- 
nee river. By an Act of the Legislature approved Jan- 
uary 24th, 1851, both of the above seminaries were estab- 
lished, the one east of the Suwannee river was located it 
Gainesville and is known as the East Florida Seminary, ; 
and the one west of the same river ^yas located at Talhy 
luihs-^e, and called the West Floridii, Seminary. In 1902 
the name of the latter was changed, and is now the Flor- 
ida State College. Both of these institutions have for 
many years been the most important seats of learning in 
the State, and both are at present in a highly flourishing 
condition, with a splendid future before them. Of this 
grant of 92,100 acres, ther? iPiur.iiuMl mi^old o:i .T:nur.u-y 
Ist, 1904, 27,081.50 acres. 

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT LANDS. 
On September 4th, 1841, Congress passed an Act grant- 
ing to each State in tlie Union 500,000 acres of land for 
the purpose of internal improvements • the lauds to be lo- 
cated within their own limits, and to be selected in such 
manner as their Legislature may direct. To the 1st 'of 
Januarv. 1903, Florida had dispocad of 4G8,0G1.81 acres 
of these lands, leaving a balance on hand at the above 
date of 31,938.19 acres. By an Act of the Legislature, ap- 
proved Februarv IGth, 1883, the proceeds a,rising from tha" 
sales (;f these lands were set apart for the relief of certain 
counties in tli? State, to assist tbeni in paying oft' a heavy 
bonded indebtedness, which they had assumed for t\\e 
purpose of aiding in the construction of certain railroads 
through their territory. 

On ^.'eptember 28th, 1850, Congress passed the Act gen- 
erallv known and designated as the Swamp Land Act. It 
vras by far the largest and most important grant made to 
the State by the (icneral Government, and through it, 
Florida, as well as a nund>er of other States, were entitled 
to receive all lands coming within certain restrictions, 
viz: All legal subdivisions. '-The greater part of which is 
wet and unfit for cultivation ;" therefore, it has been con- 
strued, that i\\] lands where over half of the legal sub-divis- 
ion v,-as subject to overflow, or could not be cultivated un- 
less first drained by artificial mean^, bdouged to the 
J..'!.,;,, qMjj^ \,.f ^noic cff'M-1 at (MKe inxiii its :H)i)r()val by 



102 

the President, m that without regard to the character of 
the land, if it were subject to overflow, or over half of a 
legal sub-division was covered with water, at the time of 
the approval of the Act by the President, on September 
28th, 1850, the title then vested in the State, the patent 
in reality being only the evideince of the conveyance, and 
the exact location and minor description of the land. 

In 1855 it appears that in some of the States lands had 
been selected that did not come strictly within the term 
of the Act of September 28tb, 1850, in fact they selected 
lands that contained mere than one-half of a legal sub-di- 
vision of cultivable land instead of less ; but as the govern- 
ment was liberal, and really desired to extend all possible 
aid that it could to the several States, the trespass was 
passed over, and the selection of swamp lands as made 
were confirmed to the several States by Acts of Congress 
in March, 1855, and again in March, 1857, regardless of 
whether th© land that had been selected was swamp and 
overflowed lands or not. 

The first and principal object of this grant .was for the 
puri^ose of draining and reclaiming th'e vast areas of 
siwamp and overflowed lands and fit them for agricultural 
purposes, but the Supreme Court of the State rendered a 
decision in which it was held that the construction of 
railroads was sufficiently in the nature of drainage and 
i-eclamation to justify the use of thesci lands in aid of the 
building of railroads throughout the State. Vast areas 
of iand have been granted by the several Legislatures, 
and conveyed by thei Trustees of the Internal Improve- 
ment Fund to railroad companies to' assist them in build- 
ing the lines of road that now traverse every section of 
the State. When the enormous debt against the Internal 
Tmpi'ovenient Fund was settled with the proceeds of the 
DiKStcn sale of 4,000,000 acres, and the legislatures were 
free to grant lands in aid of railway construction, then 
began the wonderful transformation which was to turn a 
magnificent wilderness into a land of hope, progress and 
l)rosperity, with a future v.iicse greatness grows with 
every jjassing sun, and peopled with a civilization whose 
lofty aim aijd purpose is the attainment of all that is 
highest and noblest in mankind. 

In 1880, there were scarcely GOO miles of completed 
railway, including sidings, in the entire State; today 
there are more than 3,257 miles of main track, and over 



103 

400 miles of side tracks, or a total average increase of 
over 600 per cent, in twenty-three .years. But the build- 
ing of railroads is not the only benefits derived from 
these land grants; reclamation of thousands of acres of 
hitherto worthless lauds by the Disston and other canal 
and drainage companies has converted trackless wastes 
into splendid farming and grazing lands, making taxable 
property of them. 

The total amount of swamp and overflowed land pat- 
ented to the State by the United States up to January 
1st, 1903, was 17,124,430 acres; of this sum, the total dis- 
posed of up to January, 1903, was 16,822,011 acres, leav- 
ing a balance on hand January 1st, 1903, of 391,362 
acres. 

TRICES OF LANDS. 

The sale and disposal of all school and seminary lands 
is vested in the State Board of Education. The sale and 
disposition of all internal improvement and swamp and 
overflowed lands is vested in the Board of Trustees of the 
Internal Improvement Fund. The Commissioner of Agri- 
culture is the salesman of all school, seminary, internal 
im])rovement, swamp and overfloAved lands. 

The price of the school, seminary and internal improve- 
ment lands ranges from $1.25 to |7.00 pei- acre; these 
lands can be sold for cash or on the installment plan, 
which latter plan, however, is to actual settlers only. 
I'ayments on installment purchases are made as follows: 
One third cash at time of purchase, one third at the end 
of two vears from date of purchase, and the third and last 
payment at the end of the third year. All parties making 
application to purchase on the installment i)lan are re- 
quired to make affidavit that they have improvements on 
the land applied for, and must state the kind and charac- 
ter of such improvements. He must also make affidavit 
that no other person has any improvements of any sort or 
kind on the lands wanted; these facts must also be at- 
tested to by two sworn witnesses. When the above men- 
tioned affidavits, ]>roperly executed, with the full amount 
of the first payment, which is one-third of the purchase 
price, is delivered to the salesman of the land, a certifi- 
cate of entry is given the purchaser and he holds it until 



104 

the second aiid third paymeuts are made; then the certiti- 
cate of entry is surrendered to the salesman and a deed is 
isisued to the purchaser. These installment certificates are 
assignable, and the assignee succeeds to all the rights and 
liabilities of the original purchaser. The purchaser is 
required to pay taxes on all lands entered on the install- 
ment plan from the date of the original entry. 

Tiie swamp and overflowed land can generally be ptir- 
cliased, but the price is determined by the character and 
locality of the land; it can also be purchased on the in- 
stallment plan as above described. The actual settler can 
buy as much as eighty ficres of this swamp land at 
twenty-five cents per acre if lie or she will make affidavit 
tliat he or slie is twenty-one years of age, or the head of a 
family, and that the entry is made for the purpose of ac- 
quiring a home and that the application for said lands 
does not cover the improvements of any other person. No 
one cf.n make two entries at twenty-five cents an acre. 
This Inw was intended to< induce settlers to acquire a 
lii^iuxi at the lowest possible price. 

In addition to aiding in the construction of railroads 
and canals, the proceeds of the sales of these swamp lands 
have paid all the expenses of the internal improvement 
fund, necessary to the proper care and ma'nagement of 
this large land grant; it has paid the expenses of all liti- 
gation, previously alluded to and since that time, such 
lav/yers fees, court fees, and clerical services, etc. 



The following table shows total sales of land for year 
1901 and 1902, and is an excellent exam])le of one source 
of the State's income, and the source fiom which the com- 
mon and higher schools derive their su]>])07t. 



105 







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106 

ABOUT HOMESTEAD LANDS. 

The State has no land of any kind whatever for home- 
Hteadi pnrposos ; the nearest approach to homestead lands 
are those sold on the installment plan, previously referred 
to. Parties desiring to locate homestead land, must not ap- 
ply to the State, but to the Register of the U. S. Land 
Office at Gainesville, Fla. The State's lands are entirely 
separate and distinct from the U. S. lands, and the State 
has absolutely no connection with or control over U. S. 
lands. 

LAND GRANTS. 

Following are statements of lands granted by the 
several Legislatures, the amounts conveyed by the Tnia- 
tees of the Internal Improvement Fund, and balance 
claimed as due by the companies, also lands approved 
by the United States to aid in the construction of rail- 
roads in Florida. 



107 






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Total 
Acres 


c 


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Statement of Swamp and Overflowed lands granted the 
State of Florida by the United States of America, under 
Act of Congress of September 28, 1850; and conveyed by 
the State of Florida to the several railroads, or on their 
account or order, lying within six and twenty miles of 
their respective routes; amounting to 1,977,093.71 acres 
as follows: 

Name of Railroad Company receiving lands, 
or on whose account lands were conveyed 
and charged. Acres. 

Alabama & Florida (from Pensacola to Ga. 

Line) 27,613.3* 

Blue Springs, Orange City & Atlantic 67,608.25 

East Florida Railway Co 15,731 . 29 

Fernaudiua k Jacksonville Ry. Co 23,649.98 

Fla. .\tlantic & Gulf Central (Jacksonville 

to Lake City) • 164,568.21 

Flu. R. R. (from Fernandina to Cedar Key 

and from Waldo to Tampa) 505,144 . 14 

Florida Midland Railway Co 12,856.79 

Florida Southern Ry. Co 173,863 . 91 

Green Cove Springs & Melrose R. R. Co 7,781.48 

Jacksonville, St. Augustine & Halifax River 

Railroad Company 56,782.15 

Jacksonville & Atlantic 21,501 . 62 

Jacksonville, Mayport, Pablo Railway & Nav- 
igation Company 10,837.78 

Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West Ry. Co., 
(fr-im flacksonville to Palatka, and also on 
road built by Plant Investment Co., from 
Xissimmee to Tampa as part of South 

Florida Railroad) 262,547.37 

Live Oak & Rowlands Blufif 3,253 . 21 

Orange Belt Ry. Co 88,687.02 

Palatka & Indian River Ry. Co 127,094.39 

Pensarola & Atlantic R. R. Co 56,267.30 

Pensacola & Georgia R. R. (from Lake City 

to River Junction) 65,561.77 

St. Johns c^c Lake Eustis R. R ] 4,725 . 90 

South Florida Railroad Co 65,192.07 

Sanlord & Indian River R. R. Co 6,192 . 88 

St. Johns & Halifax River R. R. Co.. 110.398.58 

St. Augustine & Palatka Ry. Co 41,510.29 

St. Johns Railway Co. 42,315.16 



no 



Silver Springs, Ocala & Gulf R. R. Co 1,405.51 

Taviires. Orlando & Atlantic R. R. Co 4,002.44 



Total acres conveyed 1,977,093.71 

Number of aci-es approved by United States to rail- 
roads in Florida under Act of Congress May 17. 1850: 

Name of Railroad. Acres. 

Alabama dc Florida (from I'ensacola to Ala- 

banm Line) 106,691.08 

Pensacola k Georgia ( from Lake Citv to Pen- 

sacola) \ 1,273.105.37 

Florida, Atlantic & Gulf Centr aUfrom Jack- 
sonville to Lake City.i 29,103.74 

Florida Railroad (from Fernandina to Cedar 

Key t > 290.183.28 

Fla. Cen. & Peninsular (from Waldo to 

Tampa) 436,073.48 

Total a(-res conveyed 2.195,156.95 

There were conveyed to Edward N. Dick- 
inson for coupons of the bonds of the 
Florida Railroad Company whi(;h fell 
due prior to November, 1866, and for 
jiayment of which the Tiustees of the 
Internal Improvement Fund were 
liable 244,563.43 Acres 

There were conveyed to William E. Jack- 
son for coupons of the bonds of the 
Florida Atlantic and Gulf Central 
Railroad Company, which were then 
due 113,064.80 Acres 

Tota! 357,628.23 Acres 

The sale to Hamilton Disston in 1881, (known as Diss- 
ton I'urchase) of 4,000,000.00 acres of land, (swamp and 
overflowed) for .f 1.000,000.00, the proceeds of which were 
used to i)ay coupons, and interest thereon from bonds of 
the freveral railroads, the interest on which was guaran- 
teed by the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund 
tinder the Act of 1855, and in the payment of other in- 
debtedness of the Fund. 



Jll 



There ^\ere also other cash sales of swamp and over- 
floAved hiDds, a considerable amount of the money from 
which was applied to the payment of the indebtedness of 
the Fund. 



VACANT UNITED STATES LAND IN 
FLORIDA. 



List Showing Number of Acres in Each County Open to 
Homestead Entry at U. S. Land Office, Gainesville, 
Fla., as Shown by Report of the Commissioner of the 
General Land Office at Washington. D, C, on Julv 1st, 
1902: 
Counties. Area in 

Acres. 

Alachua 16,540 

Baker VMY^ 

Bradford 1,605 

Brevard 81,621 

Calhoun 63,074 

Citrus 27,350 

Clav 31,523 

Columbia 2,862 

Dade 128,550 

DeSoto 78,158 

Duval 3,416 

Escambia 4,235 

Franklin 

Gadsden 3,472 

Hamilton 3,532 

Hernando 7,483 

Hillsborough 2,058 

Holmes 1,813 

Jackson 13,608 

Jefferson ^8»? 

Lafayette 39,006 

Lake. 45.243 

Lee 42,829 

Leon 1,160 



112 

Levy 35,682 

Liberty 

Madison 3,081 

Mana (ce 14,111 

Marion 143,817 

Monroe 6,35(» 

Kassan 6,190 

Orange 33,395 

Osceola 12,638 

Tasco 3,793 

Polk 21,500 

Putnam 15,701 

St. Johns 14,650 

Santa Rosa 115,166 

Sumter 1,440 

Suwannee 2,458 

Taylor 63,683 

A'^olusia 31,380 

M'akulla 600 

AValton 165,134 

WasLington 141,697 

Tolal 1,435,314 



CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT. 



STATE LABORATORY. 

The Slate has a well equipped chemical laboratory pro- 
vided wilh modern apparatus for fertilizer, soil, and wa- 
ter analysis. Also with apparatus for sugar, starch and 
other (lelerminations of foods, and similar substances. 

This laboratory has been recently very much improved 
and its capacity largely increased to meet the demand for 
strictly {'gricultural work. The principal duty of the 
Sfate Chemist and his assistant, is the inspection and 
analysis of commercial fertilizers, of which the Stale uses 
about 100,000 tons annuilly, an increase of more than 
50 per cent, during the past three years. ^ 



The v^lue cf this division of the Agricultural Dei)art- 
nient is best evidenced by the increased grade of commer- 
cial fertilizers now sold in the State, the grade of commer- 
cial fertilizers sold in Florida being probably higher than 
in any other State in the Union. 

This condition naturally follows in a State largely de- 
voted to early truck growing and fruit growing, where 
comparatively small areas are devoted to intensive cul- 
ture. 

The demand of the fruit grower and trucker for high 
grade, well balanced fertilizers, properly adapted to the 
great variety of crops produced, has led to the establish- 
ment of numerous fertilizer inanufacturies in the larger 
cities, the class of fertilizers produced being peculiarly 
adapted to the soil, cilmate and crops of the State, and of 
unusually high grade. 

No fees or charges are made for work done by the State 
Laboratory. Purchasers of fertilizer may submit samples 
for analysis, and comparison with manufacturers guaran- 
tee at any time; the analysis is made free of cost. 

This system has proved satisfactory to both the legiti- 
mate manufacturers and the consumer, it has eliminated 
the delicient and fraudulent fertilizer, checked unfair com- 
petition and provided the State with a grade of fertilizers 
euperioi to that generally offered, 

A small inspection fee is collected from the manufactur- 
ers of commercial fertilizers, which covers the cost of the 
chemical division. 

In addition to the fertilizer inspection and analysis by 
the State Chemist, analysis of soils, waters and minerals 
found in the State are also made, for citizens, and report- 
ed in the annual reports of the division.^ 

The chemical division is an adjunct to the Agricultural 
r)ei)artment. Its work is solely along agricultural lines. 

All agricultural problems — soils, water, feed — or ferti- 
lizer ; insecticides or fungicide, submitted for chemical de- 
terminations are considered and reported upon. 

8H. F. 



nf 
The Schools of Florida. 



Florida lia« 161,428 childieu of school age Uistribulei 
over 50,000 square miles of liaWtable territory. Although 
this condition of less tliau three to the square mile pre- 
sents serioiis obstacles 1o a thorough system of public ed- 
ucation, the problem has been solved more isatisfactorily 
than in any other Southern State. Every child of school 
age has an avera^ of 04 days schooling per year. The 
usual school term in the towns ranges from 120 to 180 
days. 

There are 1818 white schools conducted by 2,402 
teachers for the instruction of the y3,or)l white children, 
of whom 60,541 or 74 per ceni of tbe whole number, ai'e 
enrolled in the school.*? an>d l'<i.28o, or 64 per cent of the 
number enrolled, are in attendance every day. For these 
white schools there was ])aivl during the school year 1001- 
^2, I628J60.26, an avenige of |6.74 for every white child 
of school age, or |0.04 for each one enrolled. 

For the instruction of the 68,077 negro children of 
school age, 854 negro teachers were employed in 652 
schools, continuing an average of 85 days each for the 
year 1001-02. Forty-two thousand eight hundred forty- 
three, or 63 per cent of the whole numl>er of negro chil- 
dren, were enrolled, and an average of 29,881,, or 70 per 
cent, of the number enrolled were in daily attendance. 
These negro schools cost |164,149.51, or an average of 
$2.41 for every negro child, or $3.83 for each one enrolled. 

The average monthly salary paid to white male teach- 
ers is: 144.60 to white female teachers $35.50. To negro 
male tteachers $30, to negro females $26.75. 

The buildings constructed and used solely for the 
white schools are valued at $650,000, those for negroes 
$113,000. Other school property including an average of 
15 patent desks and as many square yards of good black 
board to even' school, brings the total valuation of pub- 
lic school property to about $1,100,000. On a total as- 
sessed valuation of $97,551,102 of taxable property there 



115 

was paid in IDOl, |G46,013.2(), nn aniount approximating 
66 per <ent on each |100. 

This school tax was derived from llie followinjj; sources: 

(a) A levy of one mill made by the State upon all taxT 
able property, netting about .f<)2,()()n which is reappor- 
tioned am(in<i- the counties in jirojxirtion to the average 
attendance of i»upils in the public schools. This tax is 
intended to relieve the burden of those counties having 
mral })Opulation and very little corporate j)r<)perty to 
assess and those having a large negro population paying 
little, if any, tax. The amount returned to the counly 
for each dollar paid by it of this tax. ranges from 31 
cents r(^tumed to Dadf <ounty to |o.ll returned to Gads- 
den county foi- every dollar j)aid. 

(b) I446.79S.74 was puid on county school levies. The 
constitution i)rovides That such levy shall be made in 
every county and must not exctH^d five mills nor be less 
than three mills on all Tsixable proj)erty. Last year forty 
of the forty -live counties levied the total millage per- 
Biitted by tl:e constitution. <>f the renuiining live, three 
levied four and one-half mills, one four and one one- 
quarter mills, and one four mills. 

(c) 168,776.01 was collected from lo<-aI taxes in 226 
«I>ecial tax districts in thirty counties. Several of these 
counties have the whole territory included in these 
special districts paying voluntary local tax. This tax is 
limited to three mills, most districts collect the full limit. 

(d) A poll tax of $1 is made a prerequisite to voting. 
Only 138,733 was collected from this source. Collections 
of back taxes and other sources of income brought the 
total receipts of money for the public schools of Florida 
for the past year to $903,942.80. 

The average amount paid, per capita of total popula- 
tion, for the support of public schools, is $1.50 as against 
$1.47 for the preceding year and as against $1.21 for the 
entire Southern States. ' 

The general condition of school affairs is good and 
most encouraging because of the ra})id improvement tak- 
ing place in every part of the State. The general char- 
acter of school buildings is very much better than here- 
tofore. The older buildings are giving place to new 
structures many of which will compare favorably with 



110 

those of towns of the same size in any section of the 
eountry. Among the best of the recent buildings are 
those at Gainesville (^L'5,000). Lakeland (|20,()00), Bar- 
tow, (additiounl ])uilding ($15,000), Sanford (|12,000), 
Jacksonville. (.f40,00((), and others. All of these are 
brick structures, thoroughly modern and well furnished. 
A number of other buildings have been recently erected, 
or are now in course of consti*uction costing from 
f 2,000 to 16,000 each. 

The financial condition of the counties lias improved 
in practically all cases except where indebtedness has 
bt^en incurred for new buildings, etc. School warrants 
are always cashed promptly and without discount ex- 
cept in two or three counties. 

For secondary education, the State maintains a well 
e(iuipi>ed State Normal School at DeFuuiak Springs, a 
Normal and Industrial School at St. Petersburg, thor- 
oughly equipped for instruction in manual training, do- 
mestic science, etc. A high grade State College, at Tal- 
lahassee, a military institute at Bartow, the East Flor- 
ida S<'minary at Gainesville, and with the assistance of 
the appropriations from the Morrill Fund, it maintains 
the Florida Agricultural CoHege and Experimental Sta- 
tion at Lake City, and the Normal and Industrial School 
for Colored Students at Tallahassee. Several counties 
maintains High Schools and more or less instruction of 
high school grade is given in nearly every county. In 
addition to these public institutions, Stetson University, 
at DeLand, Rollins College, at Winter Park, The Florida 
Seminary of the M. E. Conference at Sutherland, a 
Catholic Military School at St. Leo, and a number of 
Catholic Convents in various parts of the State, offer 
collegiate instruction to the youth of Florida. For those 
desiring training in special lines there are a number of 
private institutions, among which the chief are: The 
Jasper Normal Institute, Jasper; Massey's Business Col- 
lege, Jacksonville; Meux's Business College, Pensacola. 
In the several State Institutions named there are en- 
rolled about 900 students. 

The teachers of Florida, especially those in the rural 
schools will compare very favorably with those of like 
grade in any State in the Union. The examination laws 
are rigid and, in most cases, are rigidly enforced. Aside 



117 

from the permanent Normal Schools most of the Colleges 
maintain Normal Departments or Spring Normal 
Courses. Several Summer Normal Training School® are 
conducted each year under the auspices of the State De- 
partment and supported by Legislative appropriatiion 
and donations from the Peabody Fund. 

The control of the educational system of the State is 
vested in a State Board of Education and a State Su- 
perintendent, and that of each county in a County Super- 
intendent and Board of Public Instruction. All of these 
officials are elected by popular vote. The State Board 
consists of the (Governor, and four members of his cabi- 
net, one of whom is the Superintendent of Public In- 
struction and Secretary of the Board. 

The last Legislature appropriated nearly |2(K),O0O to 
the State Institutions for higher education, which comes 
entirely from State tax without disturbing one dollar 
raised by taxation for the summer schools. 

There is maintained at St. Augustine a school for the 
Deaf and Blind children of school age, and a reform 
echiool at Marianna. 



Population of Florida, 



The population of the State in 1900 was 528,542 as 
compared with a population of 391,422 in 1890. This 
shows an increase during the ten years of 137,120, or 
35.0 per cent, as against an increase of 45.2 per cent, 
from 1880 to 1890 and of 43.5 per cent, from 1870 to 
1880. Florida haid a jK)pulation in 1830 of 34,730 and each 
succeeding census to 1800 showed an increase of more 
than 50 per ^-ent., the tolnl ])opulation of the State in 
1860 being 140,424. Fronwl800 to 1870 the population 
increased only 33.7 per cenr., this being the smallest rate 
of increase shown for any decade. 

The population of Florida in 1900 was more than fif- 
teen times as large as the population given for 1830, the 
first census taken after its organization as a territory 
in 1822. 



lis 



The total land surface of Florida is, approximately, 
54,240 square uiiles, the average number of persons to the 
square mile at the censuses «/ 1890 and 1900 being as fol- 
lows : 1890. 7.2; 1900, 9.7. 

The only territorial changes which have been made in 
the counties of Florida since 1890 is that part of Pasco 
has been annexed to Polk and 4 sections have been taken 
from Lake county and ennexed to Polk. 

Of the 45 counties in the State, all but 3 show IncreaseB 
in population since 1890, and 6 counties show over 100 
per cent, of increase, namely Dade, 475.4 per cent.; Cal- 
h)oun, 205.2 per cent. ; Hillsboro, 141.0 per cent. ; Citrus, 
125.1 per cent.; Lee, 117.1 per cent., and Liberty, 103.5 
per cent. 

The three counties showing a decrease in population 
are Lake, INIkjuroe and Orange, which was caused by the 
breaking up of many people by the great freeze in 1895 
and 1899. which destroyed the orange groves. Since the 
I'ejuvenation of the groves, many have returned to their 
old residence, and these counties will show an increase 
in the next census. 

POPULATION OF FI^RIDA— 1830 TO 1900. 



Census Years j Population j 



1900 
1890 
1880 
1870 
1860 
1850 
1840 
1830 



528,542 

391,422 

269,493 

181,748' 

14Tf,424 

87,445' 

54.477 

34.730 



Increase 




im 



POPULATION OF FLORIDA BY COUNTIES 1830 TO 1900. 



Counties 



The State 
Alachua . . 
Baker 1 . . . 
Bradford 1 . , 
Brevard 2 . . 
Calhoun . . . . 

Citrus 3 

Clay 

Columbia . . 
Dade 4 . . . . 
DeSoto 5 , . . 

Dnval 

Escambia. . . 

Franklin 

Gadsden . . . . 
Hamilton . . . 
Hernando 6 . 
Hillsborough 
Holmes. . . » . 
Jackson .... 
Jefferson . . . . 
Lafayette . . . 

Lake 8 

Lee 9 

Leon 

Levy 

Liberty 

Madison 

Manatee 5 . . 
Marlon .... 
Monroe 9 . . . 

Nassau 

New River 1 
Orange 10 . . , 
Osceola 11 . . 

Pasco 12 

Polk 13 .... 

Putnam 

St. Johns. . . 
Bt Lucie 14. 
Santa Rosa 
Sumter 15 . . 
Suwannee . . 

Taylor 

Volusia 4 . . , 
Wakulla. . . . 

Walton 

Washington. 



1900 I 189 I 18^0_ I 1870 | 1860 | 1850 



528.542|391.422I 269.4 931187.748|140.424| 87.445 

r'2;524 



32,245 
4.516 

10,295 
5,158 
5,132 
5.391 
5,635 

17,094 
'4.955 
8,047 

39.733 

28.313 
4,890 

15,294 

11,881 
3.638 

36.013 
7,762 

23,377 

16,19? 
4,987 
7,467 
3.071 



22,934 
3.333 
7,516 
3,401 
1,681 
2,394 
5,154 

12,877 

861 

4.944 

26,800 

20,188 
3,308 

11.894 
8.507 
2,476 

14.941 
4.336 

17,544 

15,757 
3,686 
8,034 
1,414 



19,8871 17,752 



8.603 

2,956 
15,4461 

4.6631 
24,403 
18,0061 

9,6341 



6,586 

1,452 
14,316 

2,895 
20,796 
18.786 

8,294 



16,4621 17.328 
2,303] 
6,112 

1.47S| 
1.580 



1,325 

3,671 

1.216 

998 



2,838 

9,589 

257 



2,098 

7.335 

85 



19,431 

12,156 

1,791 

12,169 

6,790 

4,248 

5,814 

2,170 

14,372 

16,065 

2,441 



11,921 
7,817 
1,256 
9,802 
5,749 
2,938' 
3,216 
1,572 
9,528 

13,398 
1,783 



19,662 
5,767 
1,362 

14,798 
3,544 

13,046 

10.940 
6,635 



11,374| 

3.4441 

6,0541 

12,472 

11,641 

9,165| 



12,5841 
3,1331. 
4.2491, 
7,9051 

11.1861 
8.7121 



6,618 



3,181 
6,261 
4,535 



10,293 
6,1871 

14,5541 
3,9991 

10.003 
5,149 
9.346! 

10,154] 



7.9611 
5,363! 
10,5241 
2,122 
8,4671 
3,117 
4,8161 
6,4261 



15,236 
2,018 
1,050 

11,121 
1,931 

10,804 
5,657 
4,247 



2.195 



8,2321 



246 
1.446 



1.377 



1.914 
4,6461 

831 



4.808 
159 



5.074 
5.768 
1,901 
9.396 
4,154 

71,200 
2,981 
1,386 

10,209 
9,876 
2,068 



1,781 
1,457 
7,779 

854 
8,609 
2,913 
3,644 
3,820! 

987 



4,539 
4,351 
1,561 
8,784 
2.511 
926 
2,377 
1,205 
6,639 
7,718 



12,343 11,442 



465 



5,490 



3,338 
2,645 
2.164 



466 



3,169 

3,821 
2.618 



2,712 
3.038 



6.645 
4,686] 
7,161 
2,279 
3,294 
2,723 
4.201 
4,089 



3.312 
.•>.f^52l 
3,556 
1,453 
1723 
2.506 
3 041 
2,302 



5.480 
1,549 
2.303 
1.384 
1,158 
2,839 
3.037 
2,154 



1840 



54, 477] 34.73 
~2,2821 2,205 



1,142 



2,102 
446 



4,156 
3.993 
1,030 
5,992 
1,464 



452 



4,681 
5,713 



10.7131 



2,644 



688 
2.892 



73 



687 
2.525 

139 
2,883 




2.694 2,539 
1 


86* 




:.L....;i;..:... 










1.955 




1.817 
1,950 


1.461 1,207 
859 978 



1 New River taken to form Baker and Bradford prior to 1870. 

2 Organized from part of St. Lucie prior to 1860; part taken to form part oC 
Osceola in 1887. 



120 

3 Organized from part of Hernando in 1887. 

4 Part of St. Lucie annexed prior to 1860. 

5 DeSoto organized from part of Manatee in 1887. 

6 Name changed from Benton prior to 1860; parts taken to form Citrus and 
Pasco in 1887. 

7 Estimated. 

8 Organized from parts of Orange and Sumter in 1887. 
fl Lee organized from part of Monroe in 1887. 

10 Name changed from Mosquito prior to 1850; parts taken to form parts of 
Lake and Osceola in 1887. 

11 Organized from parts of Brevard and Orange in 1887. 

12 Organized from part of Hernando in 1887; part annexed to Polk since 
1890. 

13 Part of St. Lucie annexed prior to 1860; part of Pasco anenxed <!inpp 1890. 

14 Part taken to form Brevard, and parts annexed to Dade, Polk and Volu- 
sia prior to 1860. 

15 Part taken to form part of Lake in 1887. 



121 



Population of the Incorporated Cities, Towns and Villages of 
Florida — 1890 and 1900. 



Cities, Towns and Villages. 



Population 



19001 1890 



Anthony, town 198 

Apalachicola, city 3,077 

Apopka, town 218 

Arcadia, town 799 

Aucilla, village 173 

Bartow, town 1,983 

Bellair, town 113 

Belleview, town 137 

Brooksville, town I 641 

Carrabelle, town 923 

Cedar Keys, town 739 

Chipley, town 652 

Citra, town 322 

Clear Water Harbor, town 343 

Cocoa, town 382 

Crescent City 352 

Dade City 509 

Daytona, town 1,690 

DeLand, town 1,449 

DeLeon Springs, town 182 

Dunedin, town 113 

Dunnellon, town 700 

Etonville, town 125 

Eau Gallie, town 172 

Eustis, town 411 

Federal Point, city 172 

Fernandina, city 3,245 

Fort Brook ,town 1,135 

Fort Meade, town 261 

Fort White, town 600 

Gainesville, city 3,633 

Goldsboro, town 71 

Green Cove Springs, town 929 

Hampton, town 929 

Hawthorn, town 296| 

High Springs, town i 1,562 

Interlachen, city 147 

Jacksonville, city |28,429 

Jasper, town I 993 

Key West, city 117,114 

Kissimmee, city j 1,132 

Lake Butler, town | 431| 

Lake City, town 4,013 

Lake Helen, village 203 

Lakeland, town 1,180 

Lake Maitland ,town 136 

Leesburg. town 765 



231 

,727 
490 



216 
,386 



130 
512 
482 



534 
387 

Z12 
554 
321 
771 
.113 
235 

532 



.803 
448 
367 
37(> 
,709 



,106 
,106: 



20T 

,201 

,080 
,08? 



,020 
552 
722 



122 



Cities, Towns and Villages. — Continued. 



Population 
1900 1890 



Live Oak, town ^ 

Macclenny, town 

Madison, town 

Manatee, town 

Marianua, town 

Melbourne, town 

Miami, city 

Micanopy, tdwn. 

Milton, town 

Monticello, town 

Myers, town 

New Augustine, city 

New Smyrna, town 

Ocala, city 

Orange City, town 

Orange Park, town 

Orlando, city 

Ormond, village 

Palatka, city 

Palatka Heights, city 

Palmetto, town 

Pensacola, city 

Plant ity, town 

Port Tampa City, town 

Punta Gorda, town 

Quincy, town 

St. Augustine, city ; 

St. Petersburg, town 

Sanford, city 

San Mateo, town 

Sneads, town ) 

Starke, town 

Tallahassee, city j 2 

Tampa, city 15 

Tarpon Springs, town | 

Tavares, town 

Titusville, town j 

Vernon, town 

Welaka, city '. 

West Palm Beach, city 

"West Tampa, city I 2 

White Springs, town 

Wildwood, town ! 

Williston, town j 

Winter Park, town. I 



17 



,659 
350 
849 
254 
900 
131 
,681 
645 
,204 
,076 
943 
693 
543 
,385 
365 
245 
,481 
595 
,301 
354 
569 
,747 
720 
,366 
860 
847 
,272 
,575 
,450 
2671 
368 
972 
,981 
.839 
541 
113 
756 
141 
215 
564 
355 
690 
244 
184 
366 



687 
334 
781 
289 
926 
99 



494 
,455 
,218 
575 
558 
287 
,904 



11 



228 
,856 
239 
,039 
454 
224 
,750 
349 



262 
681 
,742 
274 
,016 



669 
,934 
,532 
327 



746 



543 
419 



270 



Of the above named 92 incorporated places there are only 14 
that have a popnlatloni n 1900 of more than 2,000, and of these 
only 4 have a population in excess of 5,000, namelv, Jacksonville, 
•with 28,429: Pensacola, with 17,747; Key West, with 17,114, and 
Tampa, with 15,839 inhabitants. 



123 

Jacksouville is the only cit^' in Florida that had a pop- 
ulation in 1900 of more than 25,000, and for this city a 
summarj is presented below showing its population from 
1850, the first year in which it is separately stated in 
the census report, to 1900, inclusive, together with the 
increase by number and per cent, during each of the ton- 
year periods. 

POPULATION OF JACKSONVILLE— 1850 TO 190O. 



Census Years 


Population 


Increase 


Number 


Per cent 


1900 

1890 

1880 

1870 

1860 

1850 


28,429 
17,201 
8.650 
6,912 
2,118 
1,046 


11,228 

9,551 

738 

4,794 

1,073 


65.2 
124.8 

10 JS 
226.3 
102.6 



This summary shows that the population of Jackson- 
ville, starting with 1,045 in 1850, increased to 6,912 in 
1870. to 17,201 in 1890, and to 28,429 in 1900. There has 
l)een an increase since 1890 of 11,228, or 65.2 per cent., aa 
compared with an increase from 1880 to 1890 of 9,551, or 
124.8 per cent. 



MANUFACTURES. 



As the best evidence of the progress of any one or more 
industries is that shown by comparison with former 
periods, so that in discussing the subject of manufactures 
we will compare the two census years of 1890, and 1900. 



121 

In 181)0, the whole number of manufacturing establish- 
ments in Florida, was 805, as against 205G similar estab- 
lishments in 1900, showing the remarkable increase over 
the previous decade of over 250 per cent. 

In 1890, the capital involved in these enterprises was 
$11,110,304, as compared with the sum of $33,107,477, in 
1900 an increase of almost 290 per cent. 

The cost of the materials used or worked up in these 
industries was in 1890, |8,021,854, while in 1900, the cost 
of the materials used in these same industries, amounted 
to 115,637,520, showing an increase of 195 per cent., and 
also showing that the consumption of manufactured ma- 
terial was even correspondingly greater, as it will be re- 
membered that during eight years out of the ten prices 
of both the raw and manufactured material were at the 
lowest known in the history of the country. 

The value of the products just referred to, prove the 
former statement, as to the quantity manufactured and 
the demand, for in 1890, the value of the manufactured 
products of these establishments was |18,222,890, while 
in 1900 it amounted to |36,810,243, or the very remarka- 
ble increase of 220 per cent. 

The labor that performs the work of operating these 
industries is as follows : 

The whole number of wage earners in 1890 was 13,119, 
as against 34,230. in 1900; of the total number of opera- 
tors in 1890, 11,539 were men IG years of age and over, 
and of the total number of operators in 1900, 32,188 were 
men lf> years of age and upward; of the total number of 
wage earners 1890, 1,312 were women 15 years of age 
amdi over and 268 were children under the latter age. 
Of the total number of wage earners in 1900, 1,668 were 
women of sixteen years of age and over, and 374 were 
children under the latter age. 

It will thus be seen, that the number of Avomen and 
children employed in factories have decreased while the 
men have correspondingly increased; the percentage 
of men over 16 years of age employed in 1890, was 88 
per cent., while in 1900 it was 94 per cent.; the percent- 
age of women employed in 1890, over 15 years of age was 
10 per cent., while in 1900 it dropped to 4.9 per cient. ; 
and the percentage of children employed in these indue- 



• 

tries in 1890 was only 2 per oent.. still it dropped to l.l 
per cent, in 1900; so that practically it may he said, there 
is no such thing- as child labor in Florida. Of the indus- 
tries above noted, the following are located in the cities 
mentioned lielow: Jacksoncille contains 195 establish- 
ments, with a capital invested of |2,0«)8,()Gy, operated by 
1,602 wage earners who receive for tlieir labor the sum of 
f 045.921, per annum. 

Key West has 92 establishments, with a capital of 
$1,83*9,194, distributing |;i,164,835 between 19G9 wage 
earners. 

Tampa contains 129 establishments, with a capital of 
?3,935,647, and distributes |2,009.077, among 4,109 em- 
ployees. 

The above represents only 20 per cent, of the industries 
reported in the census year, leaving the remaining 1,600 
establishments scattered throughout the smaller towns 
and villages of the State. It is how^ever quite within the 
bounds of reason to say that in the past three and a half 
years, the number of industrial establishments has in- 
creased 50 per cent, with a much larger ratio of capital 
employed, an incr-eased rate of wages paid, a demand for 
manufactured products that far overreaches the supply, 
and increased values that average more than 100 per 
cent. 



COMMERCE. 



The commerce of Florida, through her ports for 1903, 
has far surpassed anything in the State's history. Follow- 
ing is a condensed statement of each ports business, giv- 
ing only principle articles of exports, and aggreorj^te im.- 
ports : 





JACKSONVILLE. 


• 


Exports. 








Articles 


Unit 

of 

Quantity 


Quantities 


Value 


Lumber 

Spts. Turpentine 
Resin & other N. 
All other exports 


Stores 


Feet 

Gallons 

Pkgs. 


224,541,668 

9,400,000 

585,000 


$ 2,768,y9(! 
4,700,000 
1,755,000 
3.500,000 








Total ex{>orts . 
Imports, aggregai 


112,723,990 






te .... 






9,139,185 


Total oomnieiK't 




121,863,175 











Thi>i does not include the business that goes out of or 
into Jack,s^onvillf' by rail, it is only ocean traffic. C^ould 
the burliness by rail be added, it would iucreasa the above 
figures over 25 per cent; aside from this the increase in 
the business of the port for 1908, is practically 50 per 
cent. 

PENSACOLA. 



Exports. 








Articles 


Unit 

of 

Quantity 


1 

Quantities 


Value 


Lumber 


Feet 

Feet 

Gallons 

Tons 


148,140,000 

194,038,947 

1,153,110 

113,953 


1 2,272,279 

4,816,032 

585,252 

631,053 

7,510,357 


Timber, all kinds ...... 

Spts. Tur[>entine 

Phosphate rock 

All other exports 









Tolal exports 


$15,814,974 
.578.301 


Aggregate imports 















Total commerce 


$16,393,275 









127 



~S() overland busines.«s is included in 1he«e figures, if it 
were, tlie total sum would be iuewastHl 33 j)er wnt. ; as it 
is the increase of business for 1903 ie 33 per cent, greater 
than that of 1902. 

CARKABKlvLK. 



Exports. 








Articles 


Unit 

of 

Quantity 


Quantities 


Value 


Lumber 

Timber 

Naval Stores 


Feet 
Feet 
Pkgs. 
Pkgs. 


12.545,000 

5,715,000 

39,967 

39,967 


300,340 
70,083 

82,288 
82,288 


Naval Stores 








1 399,27« 



This i>ort has lost nearly 25 per cent, of expoi-t business 
of 1902. on account of closing down of naval stores opera- 
tions and removal of most of the business of that indu«- 
ti*y to other points. It is a port with good water and 
harbor facilities, and a good point for milling business. 

FERN.\NDINA. 



Exports. 








Articles 


Unit 
of 

Quantity 

* 


Quantities 

156.825,893 

1,327,000 

104,545 

1,537,052 


Value 


Lumber 

Timl)er 

Phosphate 


Feet 

Feet 

Tons 

Pkgs. 

Pkgs. 


$ 2,:?52,38S 

132,700 

1 045.450 


Naval Stores 

Ag. of all other exi>orts. 


3,634,811 
89.263 








Total exjjorts 


$ 7,2.54,612 
1 6,836 


Aggregate imports 
















Total commerce 


$7,261,448 









128 



No overland exports or imports are included in these 
figures; the volume of exports shows an increase in the 
business of 1903, over that of 1902, of 22 per cent. If the 
business by rail was included the total would reach almost 
100 per cent, more than above given. 

TAMPA. 



Exports. 



Articles 



Unit 

of 

Quantity 



Quantities I Value 



Lumber, all kinds . Feet 

Naval Stores j Barrels 

Phosphate | Tons 

Cigars I Number 

Ag. of fish and oysters . I Barrels 
Ag. of all other exports 



Total exports . . . 
Aggregate imports. 

Total commerce . 



314,442 

20,927 

370,794 

167,630,000 

38,540 



} 125,678 

44,112 

2,410,101 

11,734,100 

115.720 

115,974 



$14,545,685 
2,243,891 



$16,789,576 



Some exports by rail of manufactured tobacco and fish 
and oysters are included in the above figures. The in- 
crease of the commercial business of this port is $3,609,- 
068 over that of 1902, or practically 20 per cent. 



129 
APALACHICOLA. 




The exj)oits from this port are all by oceau except the 
fish and oysters, whieu are transpoited by river steaniers 
to interior niaj'kets. This increase of the export business 
for ]i)03 was over |2()(),()(m, or about X) per c-ent. 

PORT INCILIS. 




9 H. F. 



130 



This is a new port and its business is confined almost 
exclusively to the exportation of phosphate rock; the 
above figures include all business from September 25th, 
1902 to December 31st, 1903. 

rUNTA GOUDA. 



Exports. 








Articles 


Unit 

of 

Quantity 


Quantities 


Value 


Phosphate 

Cattle 


Tons 

Number 


66,055 
9,669 


1 


330,275 

116,028 


Total exports . . 


1 


446,303 
15,000 


Imports 












Total cominer('e .... 


1 


461,303 













The above figures are only for ocean going exports; 
were the overland exports included tlie volume of busi- 
ness would show double. The increase of the export bus- 
iness for 1903, is $354,720 increase of that of 1902, wn- 
eiderably over 400 per cent. 

KEY WEST. 



Exports. 








Articles 


Unit 

of 

Quantity 


Quantities 


Value 


Sponges 

Phosphate 

Cigars coastwise 

Fish, all kinds 

Other exports 


1 Pounds 

Tons 

Number 

1 Pounds 


300,000 

30,000 

30,000,000 

250,000 


1 365,000 

210,000 

2,100,000 

12,000 

50,000 








Total exports 


$ 2,737,000 
301,000 


Imports 








Total Commerce .... 


$ 2,997/iOO 



131 



As our correspondent at Key West failed to .'urnish 
us with the information asked for, we have estimated the 
above based on former reports for several years; it will 
be found very nearly correct. 

Consolidated' Table of Exports Showing Classification of 
Preceeding Tables. 



'Expo its. 



Articles 



Lumber, all kinds. . . 

Timber, all kinds. ... 

Spts. Turpentine 

Naval Stores | 

Phosphate 

Cigars 

Shipped Coastwise. 

Ag. of fish and oysters | 

Cedar 

Cattle 

Cattle that should be in- 
cluded in above 

Other Miscellaneous ex 
ports 



Unit 

of 

Quantity 



Feet 

Feet 
Gallons 

Pkgs. 

Tons 
Number 

Barrels 

Tons 

Number 

Number 



Quantities I Value 



Total ocean and coast 

wise exports 

Total imports 



Total ocean going 
commerce 



572,407,0031 

211,080,947 

10,553,110 

2,192,946 

794,846 

197,630,000 

75,092 

8 

9,669 

70,000 



5 8,329,683 
5,118,815 
5,285,252 
5,616.211 
5,721,869 

13,B34,100 

246,785 

1,700 

116,028 

1,120,000 

11,284,773 



$56,675,216 
29,098,187 



185,773,403 



As no record is kept of the fruit and vegetable ship- 
ments by the custom houses we include them with many 
other articles in the following synopsis of overland ex- 
ports; as this information had to be obtained from 
many sources, there are naturally some discrepancies, and 
a certain amount of estimation exercised in arriving at 
Bome of the results, but where there has been any doubt 



132 

as to correctness, the matter has been treated with the 
most careful consideration. 

There were exported by rail and river transportation, 
1,978,000 packages of vegetables, having a value of 
f2,24lj,000; oranges, 1.^00,000 boxes at a value of |2.600,- 
000 (crojj of im'S), and 85,000 boxes of other citrus 
fruits worth |105,000, cotton of both kinds 58,000 bales 
at a value of |2,1)00.000, phosphate 187,000 tons, value 
fl,40G,000, lumber 05,000,000 feet value $050,000, tobacco 
Florida grown 1.050,000 j^ounds, value $773,500; fish and 
oysters not included in })revious tables to the value of 
$885,000; 2,450 carloads of melons worth |250,000, 
2,200,000 quarts of strawberries worth |450,000; peaches 
and iteais worth |240,000, and over 8,000,000 pineapples 
worth 1070.000; over 325.000 pounds of wool worth 
?55,;i(;0, or a total of overland exports of fl3,083,8«0. 
There being no ])0ssible way of obtaining the importa 
overland, we are compelled to leave that out of consid- 
eration. The total exports thus foot up 170,^503,710, for 
the year 1003. and the total commerce for the vear was 
$99,757,263. 

With a volume of commerce like this under i)resent 
conditions the future of Florida seems bright, and so 
it is, with a physical conformation unlike any other 
section of the Union, a soil of great fertility, a climate 
embracing almost every latitude of The semi-tropics and, 
that yields pi-oducts common to every clime; with splen- 
did water power awaiting development; gi'eat forests of 
magnifi'wnt limber; mineral deposits of unknown value, 
and above all harbors spacious enough and deep enough 
to float the merchant marine of the world. No other 
State is so well situated to command the commerce des- 
tined to flow through the Isthmian canal when com- 
pleted. Her harbors are more numerous, and afloi'd 
deeper water than those of any State bordering on the 
Gtilf of ]Mexico, and it must follow as a necessity to the 
success of future trade, that manufacturing industries of 
every kind shall establish themselves in close proximity 
to the material to be worked up, and at the point of em- 
barkation. Competition in freight rates demands that 
the fewest transfers possible be made where competition 
in business is keen; so that when the canal opens up the 
long wished for route lo the orient, and the rush for 



133 

trade begins, then will the superior iiulii cements for the 
establishment of industrial activities offered by the deep 
water harbors of Florida be fully recojjnized and appre- 
ciated and the commerce of today will appear but a 
pigmy by cami)arisou. 

Agriculture is the very backbone of commerce, and 
combining these products with those of the forests and 
mines we have the most important adjunct in the best de- 
velopHieut of a community or a JState; and when we con- 
eider the vast area of the rich and prosperous country to 
the noj'th of us which will pour its teeming millions of 
wealth bearing products, through the splendid harbops 
that lie. along the coast line of the State, from Pensacola 
to Fernandina, the mind halts at the possibilities of the 
future, no one can overestimate the value of these gifts 
of nature, for with the expansion of our trade and the 
enormous increase in the volume 'of our exports during 
the laist few years, there has also come a marvelous en- 
largement in the size and carrying capacity of vessels 
employed in ocean commerce. This means greater water 
displacement and deeper draught, and the depth of water 
must be provided, if these insatiable monsters are to 
yield fair returns on their cost, at the same time carry- 
ing freight at rates which commerce can afford witK 
profit. The harbors of Florida offer just these facilities, 
and fill the requirements thus demanded; and when the 
canal shall have been constructed, and the great streams 
of traffic flowing down from the almost limitless interior 
seeking an outlet to new and innumerable markets in 
other lands which that great waterway is to create foe 
American enj^erprizes, the harbors of Florida will be the 
distributing points for this vast commerce, whether from 
within or without. 

% 



PART IL 

GeographicaL 



.It is essential to those contemplating; the est^iblishmeut 
of homes in a new country, that they have a fair idea of 
the geof^raphy of the section in which they are intereste.1; 
so. considering the po'sition of Florida, and its unusual 
conformation, a knowledge of its geography becomes in- 
teresting as well as necessary. Florida is the most 
southerly State in the United States and lies between 24^ 
degrees and 81 degrees north latitude, and between 80 de- 
grees and 88 degrees west longitude from Greenwich. The 
total area of the State is put down at 59,268 square miles, 
or 37,1)31.520 acres; of this area, according to the latest 
United States census, the total land surface is 54,2-10 
square miles; the total area covered by water, composed 
of lakes, rivers and ponds is 5,028 square miles. The 
length of the State from its Northern boundary to the 
South end of the peninsula, is something over 400 miles, 
the average width of the peninsula is about 100 miles, 
and that portion of the State lying along and between 
the States of Georgia and Alabama, and the Gulf of 
Mexico, averages about 00 miles in width, though much 
narrower in some places. 

From its geographical position, being in the same lati- 
tude as' the Northern half of Mexico and Southern China, 
it is natural to suppose that the climate is hot, but its 
comparative degree of heat is not accurately indicated by 
its latitude, because the temperatures that might be ex- 
pected from its geogray)hifal position are controlled in 
great measure by its peculiar shape, bringing the whole 
surface in close proximity to the ocean currents which in- 
fluence to a great degree its entire climatic conditions. 
The narrowness of the State and its consequent exposure 
to the fructifying influence of the balmy ocean winds 
produces a pleasantness and salubrity of climate, and a 
power of vegetative production truly wonderful. 



13G 

The surface of the State, taken as a whole, is compara- 
tively level ; the most level portion being in the east and 
southern sections of the State, though there are numerous 
points in the parts just mentioned where considerable 
areas of country are from 100 to 250 feet above sea level ; 
in the northern, north central, and western portions of the 
State, the greater portion of the countrv is quite hilly, 
many points having an altitude of 200 to 300 feet above 
tide water. 

Of the geographical features most important, the most 
noticeable is the great length of coast line, almost 1.200 
miles, which is also remarkable for the great number of 
bays, making the entire coast accessible, and containing 
a number of the finest harbors in tlie United States. Into 
these bays flow numerous streams, many of them naviga- 
ble, plied by numerous lines of steamboats, that supply 
facilities for commercial intercourse with interior points. 
A number of these rivers flow entirely across the State, 
the St. Johns river runs almost the entire length, rising 
far to the south and flowing due north, and in almost 
every case have at their mouths safe harbor for vessels in 
coasting trade, as well as for vessels of large draught. 
The principal harbors on the Gulf Coast are Pensacola. 
Tampa, Charlotte Harbor, Key West and Carrabelle, and 
on the Atlantic Coast, Fernandina. Jacksonville and 
Miami. 

Throughout the history of the world, experience has in- 
variably shown those countries blessed with water facili- 
ties for travel, transportation and commerce, are the ones 
who accumulated the greatest wealth; were prosperous 
and progressive. Florida has these facilities to a greater 
extent than any other State, for practically all of her ter- 
ritory is in close touch with the commerce of the ocean, 
through her harbors, where her products may be trans- 
ported to other climes or exchanged for wares from other 
parts of the world. 

Another most interesting feature of the geography of 
Florida is the large number of springs of great depth and 
size; and while the fame of these springs does not equal 
those of the Hot Springs of North Carolina and Arkansas 
or of Waukesha, Manitou or Saratoga and others, yet it 
is true that this State possesses many savings of great 
curative powers, as well as of unequafed natural 1-eauty; 
this bursting of great rivers at a single bound from the 



13T 

very bowels of the earth is a curious [)henoniena, na well 
as a remarkable feature of the eouforiiuitlou <»f Fjorida.t'or 
these springs are veritable fountains; indeed there ia a 
time honored legend which relates that one of these won- 
derful springs was sought bv Ponce DeLoon, as the 
•^'Fountain of Perpetual Youth." 

Beneath the surface of the limestone formations tha,t 
underlie a considerable part of the State, numerous 
rivers coui*se toward the sea. In many places no evi- 
dence of them is observable until they rise to the surface 
through great caverns or fissures in the limestone, often 
of remarkable depth. 

Prominent among the springs of this, character is the 
noted Silver Spring in Marion County, the head of the 
beautiful Silver Spring Run, one of the main tributariea 
of the romantic Ocklawaha, with which all tourists arc 
familiar. Hardly less famous is the great Wakulla 
spring, in the county of the same name, a few miles south 
of Tallahassee. Each as an object of curious interest 
will repay a journey for a long distance. Silver Spring 
is a circular basin several hundred yards in diameter, 
and 60 to 80 feet deep, out of which gushes forth a stream 
of water of so great depth that the '-run" leave.s it a deep 
river 100 feet wide, and so clear that coins and similar 
objects may be seen distinctly on the bottom. 

Few natural objects are more beautiful than th^ u*ans- 
parent Wakulla Springs when its surface is unruflfled by 
the wind. Lying on the bottom. ISO feet from the sur- 
face, it is said, a coin can be seen as distinctly as through 
the atmosphere. Indeed, the curious natural motion of 
the water is said to give it magnifying properties. 

The Blue Spring of Volusia County is thus described: 
^'There is a basin 70 feet in diameter and about 40 feet 
in depth. It is a huge bowl, from the bott<mi of nhich 
a column of blue-tinted water presses upward with such 
force that the center of the surface is convex to the ex 
tent of ]>erha]ts ten inches. The stream that this gigantic, 
spring feeds is about 50 feet wide, with an average depth 
of 10 feet, and a current of perhaps five mile«i an liour." 
The scenery about this locality is beautiful and pi<'tur- 
esfjue in the extreme. 

"The big sjuing of Chipola, in Jackson County, offers a 
Terr different scene. Here, also, a river bursts from the 



138 

earth, with a giant force, from large masses of riigg=ed 
rocks, with furious rapidity, as though impvitieni of re- 
straint. The orifice opens to the southwest, from a high 
swelling bank, scattered over with large oak trees. East 
and west, the orifice may be thirty feet, by eight ieet wide. 
A large rock divides the mouth almost into two parts, at 
a considerable depth below the surface. The water acts 
as a prism ; all objects seen through it on a sunshiny day, 
reflect all the colors of the rainbow. This spring at once 
forms a river 100 feet wide and eight feet deep, which 
joins the Chipola river at about ten miles' distance."' 

Many such springs are to be found in different parts of 
Florida. They ai-e all subterranean rivers up to the 
points at which they break forth. They all contain lime 
enough to precipitate any sediment or coloring matter, 
leaving the water perfectly clear. Fish of many sorts 
and sizes are often seen sporting in their depths, or dart- 
ing about in search of food. The ripples on the surface 
refracts the rays of the sun, when at the proper angle, 
and give the varied colors of the rainbow, and lend a 
sort of enchantment to the view. 

There are also many other natural springs in different 
parts of the State, the waters of which, as tested in many 
eases have decided curative properties. Of this class are the 
Newport Springs, on St, Marks River, in Wakulla County. 
the Hampton Springs of Taylor, the White Springs of 
Hamilton, the Suwannee Springs of Suwannee, and the 
Green Cove Springs of Clay. The latter is a maonificent 
sulphur spring, located in a wooded and picturesque hol- 
low, from which gushes forth 3,000 gallons of water per 
miDute. 



CLIMATE. 

''Climate," says Humboldt, " taken in its general sense 
indicates all the changes in the atmosphere that sensibly 
affect our organs, as temperature, humidity, fluctuation 
of barometer, pressure, quietness of the atmosphere, winds 
direction, force and action, purity of the atnios])hore and 
its admixture with vapor, or noxious exhalations of gas- 
eous matter, transparency and clearness of sky in 'Af* re- 



15J9 

lations to radiation of heat, to the organic development 
of plants, etc., also with ieter«m(e to its influence on the 
feelings and mental condHion of mankind." 

In relation to these manifou' elements of cliinale, 
Florida occupies a most favorabl3 position, for the modi- 
fying influences in operation- Lave produced a climate^ 
that for equability has few if any equals and no superior. 
As regards temperature, continued observations in va- 
rious parts of the State show that it is not Excessive in 
either extreme during the entire year, the range between 
winter and summer temperature being only about 20 de- 
grees. The annual mean is about 70 degrees, that of 
spring about 71 degrees; summer, 80 degrees; autumn, 
71 degrees; winter, GO degrees. 

The main portion of the area of the State is iieninsuiar 
in character and stretches away south to the borders of 
the torrid zone. If we divide the peninsula at the iSth 
degree of latitude, by a line across the State in two parts, 
north and south, we find that the difference between the 
summer and the winter temperature is lesf; south that 
north of that line. This is owing to the sun imparting to 
southern latitudes less heat in summer and more in winter 
than to those further north; also, since the temperature 
falls as distance from the equator increaies. on ? degrei? of 
depression to every added degree of latitude, and since 
moreover, the thermometer falls one degree for every 
300 feet in altitude, and Florida being so near the equator 
and so little above sea level is liable to be thought a very 
hot country. Other causes also conspire to give to Flqri- 
da a climate remarkable for its equability, so ftir as tem- 
perature is concerned. There are a large number of riv- 
ers and smaller streams which course the surface, and 
also innumerable lakes, many of which ai-e large and of 
great depth. The evaporation from these streams and 
lakes, and from the Gulf of Mexico on one side, and the 
Atlantic Ocean on the other, rapidly absorbs and dispels 
the heat of the sun just as rain upon the hot ground ab- 
sorbs the heat and cools the atmosphere: this process i«t 
quite rapid, because as the vapor rises absorbing all the 
heat it can possibly contain, the oceanic breezes Avaft it 
away and supply other atmosphere to absorb more vapor 
in its turn, thus j>erforming the same office in the cool- 
ing process. Thus the truth is demons^trated. that ihr 



themometer rises hi*;her in the latitudes of New York 
and Boston, or St. Paul, than in Florida; this holds 
g:ood in any comparison made between Florida and any 
State lying north of it. 

Another point to be considered when looking for ^he 
causes of higher temj>erature in states north of this, is 
the fact that the days in summer are longer as we go 
northward, and the nights are shorter; conseiiucntly 
there is less time for throwing off or radiating the Lrat 
from the sun that accumulates during the day. 

And still another modifying influence exists, but one 
which by many has been considered as detracting from 
the general excellence of our climate, but when viewed 
properly is shown to have a beneficial and modifying in 
fluence in establishing the equability of climate, to-wit: 
Humidity, which has been pronounced excessive, and 
therefore necessarily objectionable. But, when consid- 
ered from a scientific standpoint, a different aspect is pre- 
sented. 

The rainy season in Florida is in the summer months, 
Avhen the showers cool the atmosphere and refresh the 
crops. During these months fhe average moisture is 
slightly greater than in the States to the north of us. 
Observation and experiment have shown, however, that 
the humidity of Florida in summer is only 1.07 degrees 
greater than that of Minnesota, while in the winter 
months, which is the dry season in Florida, the moisture 
is less than in Minnesota by 1.08 degrees, w'hile for a 
period of five years the mean relative humidity is shown 
to be for Minnesota 70.4 and for Florida 72.0. 

Jjet it be remembered that the term relative humidity 
as used by meteorologists is not the same as absolute hu- 
midity. The latter determines the exact amount of vapor 
in the air when condensed into water. The former has 
eeJation to the amount of va^jor in the air when it vill be 
condens«*d", jrfter the point of saturation is reached, and 
this point of saturation depends on the temperature and 
tension op force of vapor determined by the barometric 
pressure at the time of taking the observation. 

As for instance — when tlie thermometer is 50 degrees 
and the barometer marks 30 inches pressure, a cubic foot 
of air then contains four grains and a fraction of water 
at the point of saturation, 100. When the temperature is 



141 

75 degrees and the barometer the same as before, a cubic 
loot of the atnK>sph«»re then contains nine grains and a 
fraction where the air is saturated, but still marked l(K). 
At the temperature of 100 degrees, pressure as l)efore, Ihe 
cubic foot of air at the point of saturation will contain 
twenty grains and a fraction. Thus we see that the 
amount of moisture in the air at dilFerent temiKraturcs 
varies in quantity. Therefore, the jiercentagcs given of 
100 and the different temperatures must also vary, so that 
the same figures, although they may be corre( t percen- 
tages of 100, do not indicate to us the absolute amount if 
moisture in the atmosphere, unless we know the vemiVv'va- 
ture which regulates each point of saturation. 

It k not upon the actual amount of vap'or wliidk (lie air 
contains, at a given time or place, that its humidity de- 
pends; but upon its greater or less degree of saturation. 
That air is said to be dry in which evaporation takes place 
rapidly from a surface of water or moistened subsjancc. 
Hence, if relative humidity shows a small percentage of 
100, the point of «ti\turation in a climate wher^ the abso- 
lute moisture is great, its effect in producing cvapova/i'>n 
is the same as where the absolute humidity is less • t ihe 
same percentage of 100, indicating saturation there. 

So far then as Florida is concerned, she with her (so- 
called excessive) humidity is, in that respect, not Ices 
favorably conditioned than those places which lK)ast of 
their dry climates, because their absolute humidity is 
less, and. therefore, more conducive to health. Hut the 
absolute humidity of our climate is productive of Ix^nefit 
in modifying its temperature. A'^apor in the atmosphere 
I'egulates radiation of heat from the earth into the voids 
of space; thus preventing refrigeration and sudden 
changes of temperature, so inimical to the comfort of man- 
kind, and so destructive to vegetation and the ti])ening 
of fruits. 

Prof. Tyndall says: Whenever the «ir is dry. we are 
liable to extremes of temperature. Uy day, in suck 
places, the sun's heat reaches the earth unimi)eded, and 
renders the maximum high; by night, on the other hadrtl; 
the earth's heat escapes unimpeded into s])ace, nnd rcji- 
ders the minimum low. Hence, the difference between 
the maximum and the minimum is greater where ihe .'lir 
is driest. Wherever draught reigns, we have the heat of 



142 

the day forcibly contrasted with the chill of the night. 
In the Sahara itself, when the sun's rays cease to impinge 
on the burning sands, the temperature runs rapidly down 
to freezing, because there is no vapor overhead to check 
the calorific drain. 

And here another instance might be added to the num- 
ber already noted, in which nature tends, as it were, to 
check her own excess. By natural refrigeration, he 
aqueous vapor of the air is condensed to water on the 
surface of the earth, and as only superficial [vortions 
radiate, the act of condensation makes water the radiat- 
ing body. Experiment proves that to the ray;^ emitted 
by water, aqueous vapor is especially opaque. Hence, ihe 
very act* of condensation consequent on terrestrial cool- 
ing becomes a safeguard to the earth, imparting to its 
radiation that particular character which is most liable 
to be prevented from escaping into space. It might be 
said, that as we derive all our heat frt)m the sun, the 
same covering which protects the earth from chill, must 
also shut out the rays of the siin. But the rays emitted 
by the sun are different from those emitted from the 
earth, and it does not follow that what will absorb one 
set, must neressarily absorb the other. For example, the 
sun's rays are transmitted wilh comparative freedom 
through a layer of water one-tenth of an inch in thick- 
ness; but, through a layer of half that tihckness no single 
ray of the earth could pass. In like manner the sun's 
rays pass with comparative freedom through the aqueous 
vapor of the a^r, the absolving power of their substnnce 
being mainly exerted upon the heat that endeavors to 
escape from the earth. In consequence of this differen- 
tial action upon solar and terrestrial heat, the mean tem- 
perature is higher than is due to its distance from the 
sun. A cobweb spread over a blossom is sufficient to pro- 
tect it from mighty chills, and that aqu-^ons vapor, 
though attenunted in our atmosphere checks the t"ain of 
terrestrial heat, and saves the surface of our planet from 
refrigeration, which would assuredly accrue, were no such 
substance interposed between it and "voids of space." 

The above clearly shov;s that what by the uninformed 
is sup]X)ged to detract from our climate, actually protects 
us from these great dinrnal.changes of the temperature, so 
inimical to the comfort and health of men, anrJ so dan- 



14« 

gerous and des^ruciive to vegetable life, and whicli j»o 
seriously detrvct frrun those climates where Ihoy exist, 
and produce those very dangerous derangements in Ihe 
human system leading to diseases, which our e'luitable 
climate is calculated to cure, and for which thousands re- 
sort to our State every winter, and the favorablo results 
of such visits has induced thousands marc to mijke perma- 
nent homes in our midst. 

The cool nights of our summer, so highly appreciated 
by all who have experienced them, attest the fiut Iiat our 
—so-called excessive — moisture in the air, does not pre- 
vent radiation. And again during many winters when 
excessive cold has characterized the weather of the north, 
and the cold polar waves have been j)recipitated upon our 
latitudes, the moisture-bearing breezes from the south 
meet them and the moisture overhead is condensed into 
clouds that prevent severe radiation and protect us and 
our groves and vegetable fields from the intense cold 
which otherwise we would experience. But, if as' lias 
recently been our sad experience, those intensely 
cold winds, reduced to a temperature below zero he driv- 
en as northers down upon Texas and the Gulf and these 
deflected across to our State, the passage of them across 
the warm water of the Gulf, although modified in tem- 
perature, were still cold euough to be widely destructive 
in efifects. But these pre-refrigerated storms of foreign 
origin are rare visitors to our clime and do not count as 
indigenous elements to our enjoyable climate. 

The following table shows the first and last dates of kill- 
ing frosts in 1903, also the annual mean temperature, and 
the average precipitation for each year for twelve years, 
taken from the reports of the United States Weather 
Bureau: 



CLIMATOLOGY FOR THE YEAR 1903. 



Dates on which First and Last Killing Frosts Occurred, 
or Minimum Temperature of 82 Degrees. 



Last in ; First in 
t>piing jAutiimn 



Statio:]s 



Apalacliicola • • . 

Archer 

Avon Park 

Barlow 

Honitay 

Brooksville-. ■• 

Cairabelle 

Clermont 

DeFimiak Springs 

DeL and 

Eiistis 

Federal Point- 
luernandina • • • 

Flamingo 

Fort Geoi Ke 

Fort Meade 

Fort Pirrce 

Gain«pvjllc — • ■ 

Grasmere 

Huntintton 

Hypoiuxo 

Inverness 

Jacksonville ... 

Jasper 

Johnstown 

Jupiter 

Key West 

Ki.ssiinmt'e 

Lake City 

IViacclenny 

Madison 

Malaba 



So Rpp- 
Feb. 18 
Jan. Q 
Jan, g 
Feb 18 
Feb. i« 
Feb. 18 
Feb.! 8 
Feb- 20 
Feb. t8 
Feb. 18 
Feb i« 
Feb 18 
None 
Feb, ]8 
Feb. 18 
Jan. Q 
Feb. ig 
Feb iTi 
Ftb. 18 
None 
heb. )8 
Feb iS 
Feb 18 
No Rep 
None 
None 
Feb 18 
Feb 18 
Feb 21 
No Rep 
.Ian. <) 



Nov m 
Nov. 10 
Nov. 28 
Nov. 28 
Nov^ 19 
Oct- 2S 
Nov 28 
Nov. 28 

Nov. IQ 

Nov 27 
Nov. 28 
Nov, 27 
Nov. 27 
None 
Nov 27 
Nov 28 
None 
Nov. 10 
Nov. 28 
Nov 27 
None 
Nov. 27 
\ov. 27 
Nov. ID 
Nov. ") 
.None 
None 
Nov 28 
Nov. ig 
Nov. 27 
Nov. 10 
Nov. 28 



Manatee 

.Mar* o 

M 'rianna 

Merntt's Island 

Miami 

.Vlicanopy 

Middleburi; ■ 

Molino 

Myers 

New Smyrna . • . 

Nocatee 

O. ala 

Oranjre City 

Orange Home.. 

Orlando 

Pensacola 

Pinemount 

i^lant ^ ity 

Qiiincy 

5st, Andrew 

St. Augustine. . . 

St Feo 

Stepli.-nsville. . 

Sumner 

Switzerlaiad ..., 
Tallahassee. — 

I'ampa 

Tarpon Spi-ints 

Titusville 

Waukeenah 

Wausau 

Wewahitchka . 



La t in First in 
Spriig Autumn 



Ian o 
None 
I'^eb- 19 
None 
None 
F^b. 18 
I^e'i. 22 
ieb. 23 
None 
Feb. 18 
Jan. 8 
Feb. 18 
Feb. 18 
No Hep. 
Feb. )8 
Keb 18 
Feb, .8 
Feb 18 
I''eb 10 
Feb 10 
Feb, 18 
F. b 18 
Heb. 18 
Feb. 10 
Feb 18 
Keb. 18 
Feb. 18 
Feb 18 
Feb. 18 
F b, iiv 
Feb 18 
eb 18 



Nov. 28 
None 
Nov 10 
None 
None 
Nov 26 
Oct. as 
Oct. 2.S 
■■ one 
N'ov. 28 
\ ov. 78 

Nov. 27 

Nov 27 
Nov- 27 
Nov. 28 

Nov. IV 

Nov. Tj 
Nov. 28 
No Rep. 
Nov. i* 
Nov. 27 
Nov 28 
Nov. 18 

Oct 2S 

Nov 27 

Nov. n; 
Nov, 28 
Nov 28 - 
No Rep. 
No Rep. 
Oct. 2=; 
Nov. 18 



TEMPERATURE. 



Deffrecs. 



Mean for the State, as determined from records of 30 

stations 00 . S 

Highest annual mean, at Key West 70.5 

Lowest annual mean, at DeFuniak Springs and Mo- 
lino 05.8 

Highest recorded, at Middleburg on July 28 305 

Lowest recordrd, at Middleburg on November 28 J7 

Absolute range foT the State 88 



TRECIPITATION. 



Inches. 



Average, as deteruiiued from records of 37 stations. ..").".70 

Creatcpt aimunl amouut, at Ft. Meade 78.12 

Least annual amount, at Key West 00.30 



145 

Greatest monthly amount, at Ft. Meade in Septem- 
ber 19.04 

Least monthly amount, at Ft. Pierce in April and 
October, Bonifay and Carrabelle in April and Mo- 
lino in September 0.60 

Greatest amount in any 24 consecutive hours, at 
Jacksonville May 12th-13th 9.06 

Average number of days in which 0.01 or more fell . . lOD 

WIND. 

Prevailing wild direction during the year Northeast 

WEATHER. 

Average number of clear days 167 

Average number of partly cloudy days 116 

Average number of cloudy days 82 

Annual M>an Temperature and Average Precipitation 
During the Fast Twelve Years, Deduced from Weather 
Bureau and Voluntary Meteorological Records. 

'''*^-^'' Temjirature departure PrecipiUtion Departure 

1892 70.4 — .02 47.99 —4.60 

1893 71.0 +0.4 53.01 -fO.42 

1894 71.2 +0.6 52.51 —0.03 

1895 69.9 —0.7 45.50 —7.09 

1896 71.0 .+0.4 49.62 —2.97 

1897 71.2 +0.6 56.69 +4.10 

189S 70.5 —0.1 48.36 —4 23 

1899 71.0 +0.4 53.93 +1.34 

190J 70.7 +0.1 61.19....- ••....+8.60 

1901 68.8 —1.8 58.47 +5.88 

1902 70.8 +0.2 51.24 — ) .35 

1903 69 8 —1.0 55.79 +4.55 

The mean temperature for twelve years is 70.6 de- 
grees. The average precipitation for same period is 
52 86 inches. 

The following table shows the monthly temperature and 
precipitation for the year 1903 at various points in the 
State : 

10 H. F. 



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COUNTIES. 








Holmes .... 
Franklin. . . 
W alton . . . 
Jackson . . . 
I'^scambia . 
Escambia. 
Washington 
Taylor. . . 
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150 

The foregoing tables ai-e quite interesting as indicating 
in an intelligent manner the correct climatic condition 
shown by a series of years; it will be observed that there 
is a heavy rainfall during certain months, this period 
representing what is called in semi-tropical climates the 
rainy season. It is this precipitation that makes the hot 
months pleasant, cools the atmosphere and produces the 
wonderful growth of vegetation; the theromemter does 
not rise as high in Florida during summer as further 
north for reasons previously explained, and the heat is 
not sf> seriously felt because the breezes are continually 
removing from contact with the body the warmer parti- 
cles of atmosphere, and as continually supplying cooler 
particles which more rapidly absorb the heat; the cooling 
sensation is in proportion to the rapidity of this process ; 
so in like manner these breezes more rapidly cool the 
moist surface of the earth than if the atmosphere was 
calm. 

Such breezes are a constant and enduring feature of ihe 
summer climate of Florida, as they occur with almost un- 
varying daily regularity; they must be experiened to be 
appreciated; this feature is the true secret of our cool 
nights, and it is a well known and universally recognized 
fact, that there occur but few nights in summer w^hen 
some covering is not found essential to comfort. The 
close, sweltering tempera4:ure so frequently met with at 
night in the inteiior of more northern states is rarely 
experienced in Florida. 

As a reply to the multitude of questions concerning the 
line below which no frost is ever supposed to fall, we con-" 
didly say. that there is no such thing as the frost line in 
Florida ; erosts occcur throughout the entire State, with 
the possible exception of the extreme southern i)arts of 
Dade and Monroe counties. In the more northerly sit- 
uated counties, severe frosts often occur, but grow lesB 
frequent and less severe as we igo further south. 

It is true and quite proper that we should state it he^^^ 
that at iri'egnlar intervals, Florida has been .subjected to 
the influence of cold waves very destructive to tronical 
vegetation over much the gi"eater portion of her territory. 

''The earliest information we have upon the subject i« 
that a great freeze occcurred in the year 17G<), when all 
the lime, citron and banana ti'ees in St. Augustin* were 



161 

killed, as well as many curions evergreens up the St. 
Johns river which were moi-e than twenty years old. 
Above Volusia the temperature on the 3d day of January, 
1766, was down to 26 degrees. All tropical productions 
were destroyed except the oranges. 

"In 1774 there was a snowstorm which extended over 
most of Florida. The inhabitants long afterwards spoke 
of it, we are told, as an extraordinary white rain. Sa 
that the recent snowstorm had spread over Florida a seo 
ond time in 125 years. In 1799 the temperature was very 
low, and on the 6th of April of that year a heavy frost 
occurred, destructive to vegetation, and the temperature 
was as low as 28 degrees at Picolata. 

''The severest cold ever experienced in Florida, so far as 
known, occurred on the night of the 7th of February, 
1835, when the temperature went as low as 7 degrees 
above zero at Jacksonville and vicinity. The St. Johns 
river was frozen several rods from the shore, all kinds of 
fruit trees were killed to the ground, many never ptarted 
again ; and the wild groves were frozen as far south as 28 
degrees. In 18-44 the writer saw very large swef-<- rirn^^ije 
trees on Drayton Island bearing fruit, which could not. 
have been killed in February, 1835. The temperature at 
Fort Kinig, near Ocala, then an army post, fell to 11 de- 
grees at that time. 

''In 1857 the mercuiy fell to 16 degrees at Jacksonville 
and to 26 degrees at Tampa, 29 degrees at Forr TMerce, 
and 30 degrees at Ft. Dallas, on the Miami river, in Souih. 
Florida." 

Temperature for other years at Jacksonville, were as 
follows : 

December 28, 1872 27 degrees 

January 12. 1873 24 degrees 

December 28, 1875 28 degrees 

January 3, 1875 24 degrees 

December 28, 1878 27 degrees 

January 7, 1879 25 degrees 

December 30. 1880 19 degrees 

January 12, 1886 11 degrees 

Decemlier 30. 1894 14 degrees 

February 8, 1895 14 degrees 

February 8. 1899 28 degrees 

February 13, 1899 10 degrees 

February 14, 1899 . , 17 <legreeB 



152 

In Tallahassee on Feb. 8tli, 1895, the temperature fell 
as low as 8 degrees above zero, and on Feb. 8th, 1899, it 
went to 2 degrees below zero. Tallahassee was imme- 
diately in the track of the storm, which veered to the 
northeast after passing this point some fifty miles. 

It will be seen from these statistics that a fall of the 
temperature below freezing point, 33 degrees, has oocnr- 
red many times during the past forty years, and that by 
reason of occurring in December or early in January, 
when the trees were in a more dormant condition, no 
great injury was inflicted upon the trees. It is only 
when the freezes have occcurred in February, when the 
sap was up and new growth started, that the trees were 
greatly injured. 

There is nothing in the idea that the climat?; is i-harig- 
ing. If there is any change it is in those regions vhere 
the blizzards came from, or in the occasional transfer nf 
the cold wave from December and January to February. 

Another, and one of the most important elements in 'he 
formation of climate, is the winds and storms to which we 
are liable. We do not intend to go into an exposition of 
the system of the atmospheric circulation as it exists in 
the Northern Hemisphere, but over about laiitiule .'iO de- 
grees north exists a belt of high atmospheric pressure, due 
to a decussation of winds, where a portion o*" tlu- upper 
currents from the equator are forced down i\n([ become 
surface winds. The menn annual barometric pressure 
along this line of latitude is about one-tentlt of an inch 
above thirty inches; the normal pressure, at len lower. 

South of this, towards the equator, is the (rade-wind 
belt, over which the winds are from an f^asterly direc- 
tion. North of this line exists a belt of about two thou- 
sand miles in width, and extending around the globe, over 
which the high winds continually blow from tlie north, 
stronger in the central portion, but diminishing in strength 
as each margin is approached. And, still uorHi of this, 
the polar belt, where the winds circulate around the pole 
and then take a southerly direction following the line of 
some well 'lefined depression, such for instanc.^ as the 
great Mississippi Valley. And, although the directions 
given to the winds in the three belts named are normal 
ones, yet under certain conditions they are sometimes 
diverted from their normal courses. So, inasmuch as the 



153 

nortliern end of the great valley, just alluded to, opens 
into the P^lar Basin, where we learn the direction of the 
winds are to the southward, nothing prevents th'.Mr «'n- 
trance ; and the high wall of mountain chain on the west 
side, is calculated to continue them in the same direction 
until they reach the Gulf of Mexico and beyond, even to 
the Caribbean Sea. But antagonistic to these, how- 
ever, are the moisture bearing winds from the south, 
seeking an entrance into the lower or southern mouth of 
this same great valley, where they meet in conflict witn 
the cold polar winds, which latter, being more dense, lay 
close to the surface, while the hot, moist winds slide over 
them to a more elevated position, and in the commingling 
of the two, moisture is condensed into clouds and rain, 
presenting the features of a storm elongated north and 
south. Thus being elevated sufficiehtly to be brought 
under the influence of the belt of westerly winds; the 
whole elongated mass is then borne forward brondside, as 
it were, across the northern plateau, in an easterly flirec- 
tion, until the storm passes off to sea and is carried off 
on the Gulf stream, that great river in the Ocean, or elfso 
it turns, more to the northward, and goes to sea through 
that other well-defined valley of the St. Lawrence, 'mi 
its way across the Atlantic to the Eastern Continent. An 
examination of the storm charts published by <be TTniiol 
States Weather Service shows that nine-tenths of .the 
storm tracks that are ^hus generated in the valley of the 
Mississippi pas^ over this northern plateau, as above in- 
dicated, while not more than one-tenth touches any pr.rt 
of Florida. The absence of these storms furnishes still 
further proof of the equability of our climate. The great 
spiral storms, termed 'cyclones, having a diametei' of 
many miles, may. and often do have their origin in the 
same vallev, and forced below the westerly belt of winds? 
by the sui>erior force of the cold winds of the^north, Ui^til 
they are brought under the pressure of the easterly trade 
winds, and are for' <'d back uix.n the high Avestern wall, 
the continuation ot the Ror-ky Monntnins; while from tlie 
108th meridian of longitude, on the 'MHh degree of lati- 
tude north, to latitude 10 north and longitude 75 west, 
exists a great curve, embracing the Gulf of Mexico and 
the Caribl)ean Sea, just fitted to mold this disturbanr<> 
into a cyclone or spiral stonn, and cause it to whirl in 



154 

just the direction which all cyclones in the Northern Hem- 
isphere take. While under pressure thej exhibit gxeat 
violence, but as they pass out from the pressure of the 
trade winds they expand, enlarge their spiral movement, 
lose a portion of theii* violence, pass around ths southern 
portion of our State, and, perhaps, follow that great river 
in the ocean, the Gulf stream, to the north and east, off 
to sea. These cyclones pass around us, but very seldom 
invade the land, but they may give rise to high winds, 
which, however, blow from the land towards the path of 
the storm, as it passes around us. The effect of these is 
to purify the atmosphere of all noxious exhalations 
which might have been generated by varying causes on 
land. The narrow spiral storms, usually misnamed cy- 
clones, are tornadoes, and are only of a few rods in width 
generally, but of almost irresistible power, are very de- 
structive in their narrow course, are of frequent occur- 
rence north and west of us, but are seldom visitants in 
Florida; they mostly operate within the westerly wind 
belt, where small hills and valleys are more thickly in- 
terspersed; and this peculiar conformation of the topo- 
graphy of those countries where they occur is thought 
to be instrumental in forming these spiral storms when- 
ever clouds from different directions come in conflict at 
certain angles with each other. Such storms are rarelj 
seen in the trade wind belt, and consequently we are 
exempt. 

Such is our climate in general, and a^ proof of our 
claims that we have the most equable, and withal, de- 
lightful climate in the world, we have taken the i>ains to 
explain the scientific reasons therefor. 



AS TO HEALTHFULNESS. 

It is frequently asserted by ignorant people^ that be- 
cause Florida is comparatively level, and cxtensiTft 
swamps exist in certain localities, that the country is un- 
healthy, and that malaria must therefore penade every 
section of the State; good climate and good health go hand 
in hand; we have shown by scientific facts that the cli- 
mate is good par excellence; and we will demonstmte br 



1&6 

records that experience has proven the healthfuInos«> of 
Florida equally as good. 

In the first place it is not the flat, low counLry that it 
is often represented to be, except in the extrerao south- 
ern portion and perhaps one or two localities near the 
coast; on the contrary the greater portions of the State 
consist of high rolling lands, while other portions are 
composed of high hills, rngged, broken and rocky, with 
numerous elevations of near 400 feet above tide water. 

Malaria exists to some extent in everj portion of tht- 
world, and of course in a country where vci^etation grows 
with the exuberance that it does in Florida, where the 
breath of real winter is scarcely felt, the presence of 
malaria is to be expected; but the diseases arising froin 
malarial influences are limited to the mildest forms of 
fevers and billious complaints. There are no ">n» ji uncom- 
fortable and dangerous symptoms of malarial poiyoning 
met with in Florida as manifest themselves in various 
parts of the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, 
Illinois and Indiana. Bilious fever of a remittent char- 
acter is the most prevalent, but it readily yields to projter 
treatment. Intermittent fevers also occurs, but is rarely 
attended with dangerous results. Typhoid fever as 
known in more northerly states is totally unknown here. 

Consumptives, or those suflFering from chronic «lisordors 
of the mucous membranes, particularly of the iir pas- 
sages, usually find much relief, if their cliang'^ has not 
been too long postponed. Here are vast forests of pines, 
breathing forth their balm till the whole atmosphere is 
fragrant with it, and if there is a possibility of relief for 
the unfortunate victim of consumption, this in conjunc- 
tion with the genial sunshine and soft balmy air, will 
effect it. 

The climate of our State is regarded as a spei'ific for 
most forms of rheumatism, and when couj)led with the 
bathing to be had from the numerous sulphur springs^ 
the beneficial influences of which have long been known, 
a cure is often certain and complete. The following com- 
parisons from the mortaury records of various states and 
territories of the United States will forcibly illustrate the 
superior healthfulness of Florida. 



156 
COMPARATIVE DEATH RATE. 

Maine, one in 315; Massachusetts, one in 254; ISevr 
York, one in 473; Pennsylvania, one in 462; Illinois, one 
in 579; Virginia, one in 557; Minnesota, one in 755; and 
Florida one in 1,447. The records also show that the 
ratio of deaths to the nnmber of cases of remittent fever, 
is mnch less in Florida than in any other section of the 
United States. In the Central section of the lT)iited 
States the proportion is one death to 36 cases, in North- 
ern section, one to 52; in the Southern, one +o 54; in 
Texas, one to 78; in California, one to every 122; in New 
Mexico, one to each 148; while in Florida it is only one 
out of every 287. And tiie average annual mortality for 
the whole State is less than 3 per cent. 

On the foregoing statement of facts, concerning climate 
and healthfulness, Florida bases her claim to absolute 
supremacy over all competitors. 



SOILS. 

The averaige soil of Florida is sandy, mixed with more 
or less, cla.'v, lime and organic matter. The greater por- 
tion of the lands may be designated as pine lands, be- 
cause of the pliie timber which predominates. There are 
lands on which the timber is a mixture of pine, white oak, 
red oak. water oak, live oak, gum, bay, hickorv. magnolia, 
cabbage palmetto, etc. ; these lands are termed haininock 
lands. 

The general classification of soils is in the following or- 
der, first, second and third rate pine lands, and iiigh ham- 
mock, low hammock, and swamp lands. 

The pine lands cover much the larger portioii of the 
State, and the soil is apparently all sand ; not so ; over a 
greater portion of the State this sand is thoroughly mi^ed 
with small particles of shells, which are corbonat^ of 
lime, other mineral and decomposed, finely granulated 
Tegetable matter. It is true that Florida has her pi^opor- 
tion of poor lands, just as have all other states and ••nun- 
tries, but compared with other states the ratio is very 
email. With the exception of the everglades, and a com- 



157 

paratively small portion of irreclaimable swamp lauds, 
there is scarcely an acre in the entire State which cannot 
be made, under the wonderful influence of her tropical 
climate, to pay tribute to man's energy. Lands, which in 
a more northerly climate wowld be utterly worthless, will, 
in Florida, for' the reasons above stated, yield valuable 
productions. 

JFirst class pine land in Florida, is wholly unlike any- 
thing found in any other state. Its surface is usually 
covered for several inches deep with a dark vegetable 
mould, beneath which ta the depth of several feet, is a 
chocolate colored s'.indy loam, mixed for the most part, 
with limestone pebbles, and resting upon a substratum of 
marl, clay, or limestone rock. The fertility and durability 
of this character of land may be estimated from the well 
known fact that in the older settled districts t\\\>^ kind of 
«oil has been cultivated for as many as twenty years, suo 
cessfully in corn or cotton without a pound of any sort of 
fertilizer, and are still as productive as ever, practi-'ally 
then these lands are indestructible. 

SECOND-CLASS PINE LANDS. 

The second-class pine lands, which have been adjudged 
by competent authority to be in the larigest proportion, 
are all productive. They are not hilly, but for the most 
part undulating in their surface. In some plToes, lu)w- 
ever, these elevations amount to hills. Some of tho sand 
hills in Hernando County are regarded among the liighest 
points in the State. TTnderlying the surface is '-lav. uiarl, 
iime rock and sand. These lands, from their accessibility 
and productiveness, the facility of fertilizing with rattle, 
and the impression of their healthfulness above liammock 
lands, have induced their enclosure and tillage, when the 
richer hammock lands were hard by, but more dift'icult to 
prepare for cultivation. 

Some of these lands have no regular compact clny under 
them, or, at least, not in reach of plant roots. Tliis fact 
is taken frequently as an evidence against them, since [lie 
popular prejudice is decidedly in favor of a clay sub soil. 
This objection, if it really be one. is taken for more than 
it is worth, for clay proper, or alluminum, as th(' choniists 
call it, is not food for plants. Its uses to the plant are 



158 

mechanioal. It seiTea to hold firmly the roots of the en- 
larging n-nnk, but not to subsist the hu'igry or Ihirsty 
plant. Hoiuetimes it has been found in small quantities 
in the ash of woods, but this is because the rootlets take 
up more or less of whatever is in solution about them, and 
clay has-been taken up in this way just as poisons may be 
taken up; for trees are sometimes killed by ]>ouring pois- 
onous liquids about their roots, but clay never mnkes ;my 
part of the organism of the plant, nor is it nunibered 
among the elements which contribute to their growth. 

Another notion as to the value of a clny sub-soi Is, that 
without its presence the applied fertilizers will leach 
through and be lost. The fertilizers used are generally 
lighter than the soils to which they 'are applied, or than 
the water eoming down from the clouds. As the rains 
fall some of these fertilizers are carried down, after a 
time of drought; as the soil fills they are borne upward 
again by .the waters to the surface, and both as they go 
down and come up, whether they be liquid or gaseous, the 
humus of soils has a strong absorbing affinity for, them 
and r^;ii«liily a]H)roj)riates iind retains them for the uses 
of the jilant, when the superabundance of water has pass- 
ed away. But if the soil is not filled to the surta<e, so as 
to bring back directly any fertilizer in solution that was 
f-arried down, it is safer there in the sub-soil than on rhe 
steep hih'sidi'fj of day. whert^ what is api)]ied is fr'Mpiendy 
carried away into the floods, together with the soil, to the 
vales below. Whereas what has gone down in the poms 
soil is brought up by the capillary attraction of the sui- 
faee soil, in time of drought, to the reach of the glowing 
crop. Ont^ of the uses of drought is, that it thus I. rings 
up from the sub-soil any mineral food that may be th«Mo, 
to where it wMll be in reach of the growing crop. 

But light, sandy soils, though they may produce ::reelv 
iit fn-f-i. soon give away, and this fact, for frequently it is 
a fact, s regarded as conclusive as atsainst loose and po- 
ms sub soils, whereas it only proves ihat these light s.>ils 
were not sufTiciently su]q)lied with humus, and tli-"' lurited 
supply sooTf exliaiisted. 

FoTne "^ the best nnd most enduring soils of l^londa 
hnvj' a c|io<-nI;»te colorf'd. loose, ]-»orus snb-soil. The very 

t 'K;;«"''"f , :'rtd closeness which it is rJaimed prevents the 



159 

applied fertilizer from sinking will of course be equally 
in the way of fertilizing matter rising, in the time of 
drought, from the sub-soil. 

THIRD CLASS PINE LANDS. 

Even the lands of the "third rate," or most inferior 
class, are, by no means, worthless under the climate of 
Florida. This class of lands may be divided into two or- 
ders; the one comprising high rolling sandy districts, 
which are sparsely covered with a stunted growth of 
"black jack" and pine; the other embracing low, flat, 
swampy regions, which are frequently studded with "bay 
galls.'' and are occasionally inundated, but which are 
covered with luxuriant vegetation, and very generally 
with \aluable timber. The former of those, it is nnw as- 
certained, owing to their calcareous soil, is well adapted 
to the growth of Sisal Hemp, which is a valuable tropical 
production. This plant, (the Agave Sisaliana,) and the 
Agave Mexicana, also known as Maguey, the Pulque 
Plant, the Century Plant, etc., have both been introduced 
into Florida, and they both grow in great perfection on 
the }>oorest lands of the country. As these plants derive 
their chief su])port from the atmosphere, they will, like 
the common air ])lant, preserve their vitality for many 
months when left out of the ground. 

It is scarcely necessary to add, that the second order of 
the third rate pine lands, as here described, are far from 
woi'thless. These lands afford a most excellent range for 
cattle, besides being valuable for their timber, and the 
naval stores which they will produce. 

There is one general feature in the topography of Flor- 
ida, which no other country in the United States possesses 
and whicl) affords a great security to the health of its in- 
habitants. It is this, that the pine lands which form the 
basis (tf the countrs, and which are almost, universally 
healthy, are nearly every where studded at intervals of a 
few miles, with hammock lands of the richest (piality. 
These hammocks are not, as is generally su|»posed. low wet 
binds; they never recpiire ditching or draining; they vary 
in extent from twenty acres to forty thousand acres, and 
will probably average about 500 acres each. Hence the 
inhabitants have it everywhere in their ])Ower to select 



160 

residences in the pine lands, at such convenient distances 
from the hammocks as will enable them to cultivate the 
latter, without endangering their health, if it should so 
happen that any of the hammocks proved to be less 
healthy than the pine woods. 

Experience in Florida has satisfactorily shown that 
residences only half a mile distant from cultivated ham- 
mocks are entirely exempt from malarial disease and that 
the negroes who cultivate those hammocks, and retire at 
night to pine land residences, maintain perfect health. 
Indeed it is found that residences in tlie liamriiocks thv^m- 
selves are generally perfectly healthy after they have been 
a few y?ars cleared. Nevrly cleared lauds are sometimes 
attended with the development of mnre or less malaria^. 
In Florida the diseases which result from those clearings 
are generally of the mildest type, (simple intermittent 
fever) ; while in nearly all the Southern States they are 
most frequently of a severe grade of bilious fever. 

The toj)ographical feature here noted, namely, a general 
interspersion of rich hammocks, surrounded by high, dry 
rolling, healthy pine woods, is an advantage which no 
other State in the Union enjoys; and Florida forms in 
this respect, a striking contrast with Louisiana, Missis- 
slj)pi and Texn;-!, whose Sugar and Cotton lands' are gen- 
erally surrounded by vast alluvial regions, subject to fre- 
quent inundations, so that it is impossible to obtain, 
Avithin uiany miles of them, a healthy residence. 

At first thought it would seem improbable that the m.a- 
larial diseases of Florida (abounding as it does in rich 
hammock lands, and exposed to a tropical sun), should 
generally be of a much milder form than those v,-hich pre- 
vail in more northern latitudes. But such, however, is 
llie faclt. It is suggested, in explanation of this fact, thnt 
the luxuriant vegetation which in the Southern and Mid- 
dle States, passes through all the stages of decomposition, 
is. in Florida, generally dried up before it reaches th(' 
putrefactive stages of decomposition, and that conse- 
quently the quantity of malaria generated is much less 
than in climates more favorable to decompositioTi. Th.is 
view is strengthened by the fact that the soil of Fbv'ida 
is almost everywliere of so ijorous and absoi'bent a char- 
acter that moisture is seldom long retained on its sur- 
face; Ihat its atmosphere is in constant motion, and thiit 



161 

there is more clear sunshine than in the more Northern 
States. It is further suggested that the uniform preva- 
lence of sea breezes, and the constant motion of tiie at- 
mosphere in the Peninsula, tend so much to iifTuse and 
xittenuate whatsoever malaria is generated, that it will 
generally produce but the mildest forms of malarial dis- 
ease, such as intennittent fever. 

The lands which in Florida are, par excellence, denom- 
inated "rich land," are first, the ''swamp lands;" second, 
the "low hammock lands;" third, the "high hammocks," 
and fourth, the "first-rate pine, oak and hickory lands," 

SWAMP LANDS. 

The swamp lands are, unquestionably, the most dura- 
bly rich lands in the country. They are most r':;ceutly 
formed lands, and are still annually receiving additions 
to their surface. They are intrinsically the most v.ilua- 
ble lands in Florida, being as fertile as the hammocks, 
and more durable. They are evidently alluvial and of re- 
cent formation. They occupy natural depressions or baa- 
ins, which have been gradually filled up by deposits of 
vegetable debris, etc, washed in from the adjacent and 
higher lands. Ditching is indispensable to all of them 
in their preparation for successful cultivation. Properly 
prepared, however, their inexhaustible fertility sustains 
a succession of tbe most exhaustini^j crops with astonish- 
ing vigor. These lands have been known to produce as 
much as 600 gallons of syrup or about 5,000 pounds of 
sugar per acre. We mention sugar cane in this connec- 
tion as showing the fertility of the soil, because it is 
known to be one of the most exhausting crops, Tt is cot 
quite fair to make this the measure of the fertility of 
lands situated in different climates and countries, for we 
find on the richest lands in the State of Louisiana the 
product of sugar is not more than about half what "t is 
in Florida. 

This great disparity in the product of those countries is 
accounted for, not by any inferiority in the lands of 
Louisiana or Texas, but by the fact that the early incur 
sions of frost in both these States render it necessary to 
cut the cane in October, which is long before it has reach- 

11 H. F. 



162 

ed maturity, while iu Florida it is pei-mitted to stand, 
without fear of frost, till the last of November or Decem- 
ber, or till such time as it is fully matured. It is well 
known that it ''tassels" in South Florida, and it never 
4oes so in either Louisiana or Texas. When cane "tas- 
sels" it is evidence of its having reached full maturity. 
In consequence of the heavy outlay of capital required in 
the preparation of this description of land for cultiva> 
tion, and from the facility of obtaining hammock land, 
which requires no ditcliing nor draining, swamp land has 
been but little sought after by persons engaged in jilant- 
ing in Florida until in recent years, and there is now !>?: 
least a million of acres of the best description of this land 
in various parts of the State which can be secured at from 
two to five dollars per acre. 

The greater part of what are known as swam]* lands 
proper are mostly located in East and South Florida. 
Low hammocks, which are practically swamp lands, arc 
not inferior to swamp lauds proper, in fertility, but are 
considered not quite so desirable. They are nearly 
always level, or nearly so, and have a soil of greater 
tenacity than that of the high hammocks. Some ditching 
is necessary in many of them. The soil in them is always 
deep. These lands are also extremely well adapted to 
the growth of the cane, as has been well attested by the 
many plantations which were formerly in operation here 
on this descrij)tion of land. There is not nearly so large 
a proi)ortion of Ioav hammock as there is of swamp lands. 

HIGH HAMMOCKS. 

High hammocks are the lands in greatest favor in 
Florida. These differ from low hammocks in occupying 
higher ground, and in generally pi-esenting an undulat- 
ing surface. They are formed of a fine vegetable mould, 
mixed with a sandy loam in many pla<e8 several feet 
deey). and nesting in most cases on j) substratum of clay, 
marl or limestone. It will be readily understood by any 
one at all acquainted with agriculture, that such a soil, iu 
such a climate as Florida, must Ije extremely productive. 
The soil scarcely ever suffers from too much wet ; nor 
does drought affect it in -the same degree as (Mhcr lands. 
High hammock lands ]»rodnce with but little labor of cul- 



tivation, all the crope of the country in an eminent degi-ee. 
Such lands have no tendency to break up in heavy masses, 
nor are they infested with pernicious weeds or grasses. 

To sum up its advantages, it requires no other prepara- 
tion than clearing and plowing to fit it at once for the 
greatest possible production of any kind of crop adapted 
to the climate. In unfavorable seasons it is much more 
certain to i)rodnce a good crop than any i)ther kind of 
land, from the fact that it is less affected by exclusively 
dry or wet weather. It can be cultivated with ijiuch less 
labor than any other lands, being remarkably mellow, 
and its vicinity is generally high and healthy. These 
reasons are sufficient to entitle it to the estimjition in 
which it is held over all other lands. 

Some of the counties of Middle Florida, Gadsden, I.eon, 
Madison and Jefferson, and Jackson ccmnty, of West Flor- 
ida, have large areas of fine high hammock Umd. under- 
laid with a "?tiff clay. These are the best lands of the 
State for the growth of the short staple cotton, .'tnd ai-e 
indeed the cream of the State for general farming pur- 
poses. They are of the earliest formation of the Florida 
lands. 

The first rate pine, oak and hi«kory lands are f«)und in 
pretty extensive bodies in many parts of the State. From 
the fact that those lands « an be cleared at much less ex- 
pense than the swamp and hammock lands, they have 
heretofore been preferred by the smaH planters, and have 
proved remarkably productive. 

There are, besides the lands already noticed, extensive 
tracts of prairie lands, which approximate in chui"act3r, 
texture of the soil, and period and mode of formation, to 
the swamp lands, differing only in being destitute of , .m- 
ber. Some of these lands are, however, extremely poor, 
but most of them afford excellent pastures during the 
greater part of the year. 

Some of the largest bodies of rich hammock land in 
East Florida are to be found in Levy, Alachua, Marion, 
Hernando, Citrus, Pasco and Sumter counties. There 
are in Levy Coimty alone, not less than one hundred 
thousand acres of the very best description of sugar lands; 
and there is but a small proportion in any of the counties 
here mentioned, that will not produce renninerative crops 



164 

of Sea Island and Short Staple Cotton, without rhe aid 
of manure. 

A most attractive feature peculiar to the soils of Flor- 
ida is the ease with which they can be cultivate*! as com- 
pared with stiff heavy soils, whifti quite as fertile. An- 
other is that the greater part of the farm laboi^ and lii- 
lage can be, and much of it is, performed during those 
months of the year when the ground further north is 
frozen. Still another peculiarity is, that fertilizer can be 
applied to greater advantage, because the fertilizing nate- 
arial will remain in the soil until the stimulating » hemical 
ingredients are assimilated and absorbed in to the earth, 
and are not carried away by washing rain as they .'ire in 
broken or mountainous countries, and also because the 
porosity of the soil enables the atmosphere, through 
oxidization, more readily to aid the fertilizers in the work 
of decomposing the minerals of the soil, thus setting free 
thO'tfood elements they contain, for the use of (he growing 
crops. 



STAPLE PRODUCTS. 

The staple products of Florida are much the :-ame as 
those of other States ; combining with practically all the 
products of more northern latitudes, about all those of 
the semi-tropical and tropical regions, she produces a 
greater variety of food producing plants than any other 
country in the world. To the staple products, recognized 
as such in all countries as such, belong the following: 
Upland and Sea Island Cotton, Com, Oats, Sweet ]'ota- 
toes. Sugar Cane, Rye, Field Peas, Rice, Hay, Wheat, 
Tobacco and Peanuts; others such as Cassava, Velvet 
Beans, Millet, Pumpkins, etc., are also staple products 
here. 

CORN, 

The most universally grown crop on the American Con- 
tinent, grows in every county in the State except Dade 
and Monroe. The method of cultivation % practically 
the same as that of all the other corn growing sections of 



1G5 

the Union, except that these methods are modifieJ or 
changed to suit the local conditions, such as soil, situation 
and climate. 

COTTON. 

The importance of this crop to Florida is such, that we 
devote a little extra space to its history and value as one 
of the main field, and money crops of our State; facts 
which are becoming more evident with each year, as the 
demand, specially for the long staple or Sea Island va- 
riety is increasing faster than the supply. 

Cotton is an indigenous product of all infer-tropical 
regions, and is the plant that supplies the raw material 
for one of our most important industries, and the cloth- 
ing for the nations of the temperate and torrid zone; and 
thus it is entitled to rank as one of nature's Important 
products. 

This plant has caused no little perplexity to botanists, 
and in spite of all research its genealogy is involved in ob- 
scurity. The celebrated botanist, Linnaeus, gives five dis- 
tinct species; to this list other writers on and students of 
this subject have added two more, though some authori- 
ties claim that there are at least twenty separate and dis- 
tinct species. They have without doubt, confused varie- 
ties of the different species occasioned by soil, climate 
and culture for separate s])ecies. 

The two great divisions are the cotton of the new and 
of the old worlds — the Oriental and the Occidental (the 
Indian and the American.) The botanical differences are 
slight, but sufficient to distinguish them. The -^-eed of the 
eastern plant is never black or naked. The Indian is rhe 
upland variety we have today, only that it has been im- 
proved and gradually brought up to its present state of 
perfection. 

The origin of this icrrand division of cotton '^eenis to 
have been in India. Five centuries prior to 'he Chris- 
tian era the peoi)le of India made a cloth from tlie fiber «<f 
cotton. More than 2,000 years before England or Europe 
had conceived the idea of manufacturing cotton, India 
had mafnred a system of liand-sj>iniiinfr. weaving and 
dying, and singular as it may seem to the people of lh!.« 



166 

progressive and utilitarian age, though this people were 
remarkable for their intelligence, in all these <:enturie8 
they made no improvements in their mechanical methods, 
nor was the cultivation of the plant extended. Indeed, it 
would seem that the plant was so poorly cultivated that 
when the attention of westesrn nations was attracted to 
India the cotton was found to be so poor that the East 
India company attempted to improve it by introducing 
the cottons of America, Egypt and Pernambuco, but with 
little or no success. 

The Occidental or American division comprises the 
cotton most sought after by the manufactories. The prin- 
cipal varieties are the Sea Island and uplands. 

The sections of the State best suited to the growing of 
the Uupland Cotton is that contained in the counties in 
Madison, Jefferson, Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla and Jack- 
son, the latter lying west of the Apalachicola river; the 
lands here are heavy hammock of red clay subsoil, Hnd are 
specially adapted to this crop. Of this variety of cotton, 
the State produced about 30,000 bales in the vear 1003, 
worth $1,500,000. 

THE SEA ISLAND VARIETY. 

This species seems to be a native of Honduras, whence 
it is supposed to have spread to the West Iiidies and 
thence was carried to the United States about one hun- 
dred years ago. This cotton requires a climate soft, mild 
and maritime. Thus it is found on the islands .-ilong the 
coast of Georgia and South Carolina, south of Charleston, 
where it grew and flourished as on its native soil, and 
where it was found and its worth discovered by the Ameri- 
can planters after this country had recovered from the 
effects of the revolutionary war. 

lieforc the ];rpsen( century the i)rin<ipal su]>ply of this 
cotton was obtained from the West Indies. Tlic finest 
ever brought to the English market, or probably ever 
grown, was raised on the island of Tobago, The West 
Indian cotton was of superior grade, but the culture of 
cotton was superseded there by sugar cane, which in'oved 
to be more ]»rofitable. 

The abandonment of the culture of Sea Island cotton 
in the West Indies left the Sea Island cotton region of 



1«7 

America without a rival, unless we except -i suix^rior 
grade of cotton produced by Egypt, as such. While this 
variety is a superior one, it does not possess the length, 
strength and fineness of its American rival, which may be 
accounted for by the absence in part, at least, of the mari- 
time condition of the climate. The seed of this Egyptian 
cotton, it is said, was brought from that unknown region, 
Ethiopia. 

Brazil also produces a very excellent grade of cotton, 
known as the Santos. 

There is also a small strip of territory in India that 
produces a very superior article of cotton, which, from 
all acounts, may be the equal of our famous Sea Island 
variety, but so small is the territory that there has never 
been enough raised to find its wnv into the msirts of the 
world's commerce. 

From this rapid glance at the products of the world's 
cotton-producing sections, it will be seen that our Sea 
Island cotton stands as yet without a rival. 

BRIEFLY HISTORICAL. 

The first Sea Island, or long staple, cotton that there 
is any mention of was igrown on St. Simon's Island. Geor- 
gia, in 178G. The first exported was by Alexander Hissel 
from that island in 1788. The seed was obtained from 
the Bahamas. The first successful crop grown -n. South 
Carolina was at Hilton Head, by William Elliot, in 1790. 
The excellence of this cotton was not thoroughly de- 
termined until 180G. It was then sold for thirty cents 
when other cotton was selling for twenty-two cents per 
pound. In 1810 Sea Island cotton was worth forty seven 
cents, while other cotton was worth but twenty-seven, 
cents per pound. 

The difl'iculty under which the manufacturers labored 
for many years was the want of proper machinerv for 
preparing the long staple cotton for manufacture. For 
many years the only method of separating the iint from 
the seed was by hand. Then came Eli Whitney's gin, sim- 
ple and very imperfect, consisting of two rollers and a 
brush. The brush, tradition says, was a suggestion of 
Mrs. Whitney. For some time, it was said, the i janufac- 



168 

turers were obliged to cut the staple in two, in order to 
work it. Then came the ingenous gin of McCarthv, which 
revolutionized the ginning of cotton; from the principle 
evolved by McCarthy came the splendid and almost per- 
fect gins of today. 

The production of Sea Island cotton was for a time 
confined to the islands lying along the coast of South Car- 
olina, from Charleston, south, and along the coast of Geor- 
igia and Florida. These islands are very numerous, and 
lying as they do, near to or in the confines of the gulf 
stream, they produce an excellent grade of this unexcelled 
variety of cotton. For some reason, not w-ell under- 
stood or explained, the gulf stream appears to exert a 
great influence on the quality, if not the quantity, of this 
staple. 

WHY FLORIDA IS ADAPTED TO THE GROWTH OP 
SEA ISLAND COTTON. 

The name indicates that Sea Island cotton is a product 
of the islands of the sea. Therefore can it be successfully 
grown in Florida, which is considered the mainland? Ex- 
perience proves that it can, and further, that the finest 
grades as to length of fiber and quality are annually 
grown in the counties of Alachua, Bradford, Levy, Ma- 
rion. Columbia, Suwannee and Hamilton, and it is suc- 
cessfully grown in other portions of the State. Nor have 
we far to go for a reason. Sea Island cotton requires a 
climate mild, soft and maritime. This, Florida possesses 
to an eminent degree. Florida is so nearly surrounded 
by water that to all intents and purposes it is an island. 
On the east we have the Atlantic, and flowing near the 
shores of Florida is the Gulf stream, a river amid the 
ocean, bearing on its bosom life and warmth, and impart- 
ing to the atmosphere of Florida that which is needed to 
cause the Sea Island cotton to grow and flourish. But 
this is not all. The Gulf stream is assisted and aided by 
the many warm currents in the gulf thnt flow north nutil 
they are deflected by Florida's shores, there to add their 
portion to the atmosphere of Florida to fit and adapt it ;(» 
tlie needs of this staple. 



109 

For these reasons no country in the Avoi-ld is so well 
adapted as Florida to the ^a-owth of this partionUu- staple. 
The happy combination of atmosphere and soil is so pe- 
culiarly adapted for the production of Sea Island cotton, 
that for length, strength and finenessof staple it is not ex- 
celled by any other country in the world. This is shown 
by the fact that cotton grown in this State was awarded 
the gold medal at the Paris exposition, over all oonipeti- 
tors from the cotton-growing countries of the world. 

In this favored clime this staple is produced of such 
strength and fineness that it is capable of being converted 
into hand and sewing machine thread from No. 8 to No. 
1,000, into most beautiful laces, and so deftly woven into 
the finest silks, satins and velvets that only the best ex- 
pert can tell it. So many and varied are its uses that if 
the amount of this staple that is now being produced was 
increased tenfold, the price would not be affected ; indeed 
the chances are that it might be advanced. 

For growing Sea Island cotton the region beat snitcd 
is in the territory included in Alachua. Bradford, T evy 
and Marion counties. Why this is so Ave Avill not attempt 
to say. But that it is the case is indicated ]\v 'lie fact 
that the cotton grown in Levy, Alachua and INfarion coun- 
ties has been quite often brought into competition with 
the finest cottons of other cotton growing countries and 
in every case it has been aM'arded the medal as the best. 
At the Paris exitosition cotton grown in Alachur<. county 
was awarded the gold medal over all competitors. The 
fact that cotton produced in this region has taken the 
medal year after year is conclusive proof that these coun- 
ties are better adapted for the production of Sea Island 
cotton than any other country on the globe. 

The growii\g of Sea Island cotton can be ])ursued in 
connection with the cultivation of other farm crops, and 
will be found exceedingly profitable when cultivated with 
care and intelligence. It always brings a good price, -uid 
the supply never exceeds the deuKUid. Of this variety of 
cotton, the State produced about 28,000 bags in lOO'J, 
worth 12,500,000. 



170 

SUGAR CANE. 

The prospective settler in the State of Florida naturally 
wants to know from those already here which are the 
most profitable and the most reliable crops to grow, and 
if he comes from the wheat or com sections of the country 
he will want to knoV particularly which of all oar 
crops is the most reliable as a ready cash crop. If he 
should get into the trucking and vegetable section of the 
State the answer to his inquiry would be according to the 
particular crop that was at that time yielding The best 
returns, and the same holds true in other sections ; but for 
an all round farm crop that is suitable for all sections of 
the State there is no crop that will give more satisfaction 
in every way than the sugar cane crop, for it is at home 
in every section of the State ; it grows and gives a good 
account of itself in all kinds of soils, from the sandiest , 
blackjack to the heaviest low hammock, and the product, 
if made into a high grade article of table syrup, is always 
iu demand at remunerative prices. There is enough of 
suitable land in the State of Florida today to jgrpw 
enough sugar cane to produce one hundred and fifty gal- 
lons of high-grade syrup for every man, woman and child 
in the United States. 

The culture of sugar cane and the manufacture of raw 
sugar or syrup in Florida, dates from the earliest settle- 
ment. The plant was introduced by the Jesuit Fathers 
and lai\gely cultivated on the East Coast, near St. Augus- 
tine and New Smyrna, by the early Spanish settlers. The 
canes having been introduced from the West Indies, from 
India by Spanish and Dutch traders, where it was culti- 
vated on a commercial scale as earl}' as 1.518. The re- 
mains of sugar factories and evidences of sugar culture 
on an immense scale are still found at New Smyrna in 
the Turnbull hammock. A drainage system is still in 
use, established by sugar and indigo planters raore than 
two hundred years ago. There is no reason to doubt that 
Florida was the first of the United States to cultivate and 
manufacture sugar on a large scale. 

Culture — It is unnecessary here, to go into detailed 
methods of cultivation, every Florida farmer fully under- 
stands them, and the new farmers from other States, to 
be successful must learn the process where he can .see it 



171 

going on or have the assistance of those who do knovir, but 
we do say this much, that a large part of the culture 
should precede the planting. The bed should be deeply 
plowed and in perfect tilth before planting. Fall plant 
ing is preferable in South Florida. In the centra', north- 
ern and western portion of the State it nnist be planted 
in the spring, the earliness depending on the section of 
the State. By having the ground ready the plantin;^ can 
be done at the time of grinding, using the immavure tops 
for seed. An acre of tops should plant more than an 
acre of new land. In South Florida cane should yield at 
least three good crops from one planting; frequently, 
with proper care, it will last five or six years. The cul- 
ture should be shallow, at all times working a low ridge 
toward the cane. For fertilizing nothing is hotter than 
cow-penning, which, however, should be re-inforoed liy one 
hundred and fifty to two hundred pounds of Hi^h (irade 
Sulphate of Potash (45 to 50 per cent, of potash.) Cane 
requires potash to mature its juices, as does all fruit or 
sugar producing plants. A general fertilizer for cane 
should have about these proportions : Amnioma o, Phos. 
Acid 5, Potash 4. Cotton seed meal. Acid IMios. and 
Kainit mixed in equal parts and applied 500 to 1,000 
pounds per acre will give most excellent results; this will 
yield the necessary fertilizing elements in about the cor- 
rect proportion. 

At present prices this fertilizer should not cost to ex- 
ceed flS.OO per ton at seaports. One thousand pounds 
per acre should insure a crop of not less than 25 tons of 
cane per acre, with an average of 10 per cent, sugar or 
5,000 pounds sugar per acre, or 000 to 750 gallons of first 
class syrup per acre, using a first class apparatus and ex- 
ercising due econouiy. About one half this amount can 
be secured with the usual apparatus now geiM^rally em 
ployed in this State. 

Varieties of Cane— There are a number of difi'orent 
canes, probably seventy-five or more known varieties. lu 
many cases the same cane is known by different local 
names. There is not to exceed a dozen kinds tha* are val- 
uable in Louisiana and Florida, of which probablv three 
distinct kinds are worth considering, the "Orystaline." 
from which a number of different canes have originated, 
is generally considered best; the "Red Ribbon" and the 



172 

"Purple" caue come next. The large white or Hawaiian 
cane is largely planted in Florida ; it is a favorite for 
chewing. It is a slow grower, late in starting, and does 
not rattoon perfectly. 

The "Grj'staline" is considered the bes^t all ronnd cane. 
It is known by many local name?. It rattoons well, is 
early in sprouting and ready to lay by by May 15, its su- 
gar content is high and impurities small. 

The Red Ribbon is also an excellent cane and infe- 
rior to the Crystaline only in the fact that it does not rat- 
toon so perfectly. The Purple or Burbon ^ane is a hardy 
cane, smaller than either of the others named; its f-ugar 
content is equal to the Red Ribbon or Crystaline; it is 
well adapted to North Florida, and is almost exclusively 
cultivated in Georgia; it will stand more frost than the 
Crystaline or Red Ribbon. 

We have the soil to grow the cane and as above stated 
the best sugar producing cane; and in respect to fertiliz- 
ers it is reasonable to say that no other State is more 
favorably situated than Florida.. We have inexhaustible 
deposits of the finest phosphate in the world. In the 
leguminous crops which grow here and are almost indi- 
gineous, such as field peas, velvet beans, beggar weed and 
others, we have the most valuable means assimilating ni- 
trogen from the air. 

In cotton seed, fish scrap and oiher animal refuse have 
access to large stores of nitrogen. Through your sea- 
ports stores of fertilizer materials, such as nitrate of 
soda and potash salts, can be brought from South Ameri- 
ca and Germany. It would be hard to find any other 
portion of our country where fertilizers could be manu- 
factured and sold more cheaply than in tliis State. 

This country is the (greatest sugar and starch consun)Pr 
in the world. We use more than 2,000,000 tons of sugar 
annually. Of this quantity, before the Spanish war, we 
made only about .300,000 ton.s— about one-seventii of all. 

Since the Spanish war we have acouired^awaii. I'orto 
Rico and the Philippines, all of which gives us large addi- 
tional quantities of sngar. Tliis year we will i)roduce 
about 100,000 tons of beet sugar, so that at the present 
time it may be said that we produce about one-iliii-d of all 
the sugar we consume; but still there is a vast foreign 
market which we might supply with a home ])rodn<-t. 



J73 

Tliere is no danger, therefore, of overstockins: our own 
market with increased sugar productions, nor is there 
danger of the best sugar driving the cane sugar out of the 
market. For many purposes, as, for instance, the manu- 
facture of syrup, beet sugar is unsuitable, and there will 
always be a demand for all the cane suffar that can be 
made. 

The sugar crop of the whole world for the present year 
is about 10,000,000 tons, of which nearly 7,000,000 tons 
are made from the sugar beet. 

"The sugar beet cannot, however, be grown in Florida 
profitably. Here you must depend on the sugar cane for 
sugar and upon the cassava and potato for starch. From 
starch glucose can also be made, and it seems that in the 
near future the glucose industry will pass from the Indian 
corn belt to the cassava and potato belt. 

In the cultivation of sugar cane we claim for Florida 
soil a superiority over any other section of the United 
States, even including Louisiana. 

The great advantage lies in the fact that the ^ane is not 
injured by standing — it may remain uncut until the secre- 
tion of sucrose is complete. There is no danger from 
frosts or cold, and the stalk may therefore reacli full ma- 
turity. In Louisiana a matured cane stalk — that is, one 
in the tassel — is practically unknown. Cutting must 
commence in October or early November, ( because to be- 
gin later would be to invite a complete destruction of the 
crop by freezing. The cane is, therefore, har^-este<i long 
before maturity, and consequently at a loss of ranch of 
its value. 

It has been frequently stated, and again and again as- 
serted, that first class granulated sugar can be made from 
Southern cane at a large profit when selling the sugar at 
less than it costs to produce beet sugar; that if these facts 
were intelligently placed before the American farmer and 
capitalist the enormous sums now being invested in beet 
culture and manufacture would be diverted to the sugar 
belt of the South, and particularly to Floirda. 

It requires no experimentation; there are no facts to 
demonstrate; they are here, ready for investigation. The 
plant, the amount it will produce per acre, its sugar con- 
tent, the cost of production, in labor and time— these 



174 

factore are authoritatively established by our Agricultu- 
ral Department, and by our own people. 

COST OF FACTORY. 

A factory to turn out 50,000 pounds- "f granulated su- 
gar per day can be erected for |75,000. Allowing the raw 
material (cane or syrup) to cost 50 per cent, of the selling 
price of sugar, 50,000 pounds will ]iay thr grower |;i,125; 
cost of manufacture (75 cents ]>er TOO poutfds), if>875; net 
profits of factory per day, |750; gross daily proceeds, 
|2,250. These figures are based on present prices of su- 
gar — i. e.. 4.\ cents for standard granulated. The factory 
should run for one hundred days, showing a not profit of 
175,000 per season. Such a factory will reipiire ;;00 tons 
of cane (or its equivalent in syrup), yjcr day, and will 
consume the product of some 1,500 acres of averat^e Flori- 
da cane, paying the growers |1 12,500 for the season. 
Tkere is not a town or village in the Shite, from Pensa- 
cola to Jacksonville, or from Jacksonville to Tampa or 
Miami, that cannot furnish within a shorr distance twice 
the i-*^r[uired acreage for such a mill. .\ thousand such 
mills would be required to produce the 5,000,000.000 
pounds imported annually. 

The modem factory will make 175 v>ounds gran\ilated 
sugar per ton of cane, pay the farmer ft ])er ton, and net 
the factory |2.50 per ton of cane. The product of the 
modern house will find a ready sale wherev<»r offered. 'J he 
open house sugar can only be sold to a refinery, as the 
American public will use none but the best granulated 
sugar. A mill handling from 400 to 800 tons of cane per 
day, requires no greater number of skilled '^m])loyees, en- 
gineers, sugar makers, etc., uses little fuel, the waste of 
house is reduced to a minimum, the extraction is ])racti- 
cally ix'rfect (80 to 82 per cent.), practically no labcn* is 
required after the cane is placed on the carrier, the ])ro- 
duct is ready for immediate consumption. 

These mills or factories, purchasing their supplies fi-oui 
the farmer, can afTord to pay for the cane delivered, a 
price, equal to the smn now obtained for his <'rnde syrup, 
now made in a crude and w\isteful manner, saving the 
farmer the annoyance and cost of niannfactnre and ])!ick- 



17i 

ages, and at the same time make large profits on the <*api- 
tal invested. 

From by-products of the factories immense quantities 
of cattle food can be obtained, both from sugar cane !.nd 
the starch producing plants. Thus a dairy industry (an 
be established in connection with sugar and starch mak- 
inig, which will add much to the wealth of the State. 

There is an immense amount of wealth in this industry 
of Florida, and if properly directed it will in a few years 
far outstrip that of Louisiana and make Florida ihc lead- 
ing sugar-producing country of the world. 

SWEET POTATOES. 

Next to corn, the most important article of vegetable 
food in common use is the sweet potato. They ilo best <.n 
s\ light soil, well manured. The yield ])er acr»^ is from 
100 to 300 bushels, depending upon the season, cnltuie 
and quality of soil. They are propagated from the ^-^ed. 
like Irish ])otatoes; from draws, and from ihe vines. 
Under the first method, the i)otato<'s are iilant-^d in hills 
or drills earh' in the season, and cultivated vf>i'y much 
like the Irish potatoes. By iho second method, the pota- 
toes are planted thickly in a bed ; when thev have snronled 
two or three inches, the young shoot«. called draws, are 
broken otf and set out in the field. This must be done in 
damp or showery weather. The third is bv cnttinc'- off 
and planting out pieces of tho vine, after the plants Iidvp 
commenced running. The crop raised from vines Is h'ter, 
but frequently not inferior, either in onantity or qualitv. 
to that raised by the other methods of propagation. The 
early crop begins to mature about midsummer. The crop 
is a profitable one. and desrrvinsr of more attention, as a 
market crop, than it has hitherto received. J^weet pota- 
toes bear shipment well, and command .srood yn-icesi in tlie 
Northern markets. 

]{TCE. 

Rice does finely, even on the poor pine lands whim suffi- 
ciently fertilized. After cow-penning the grounds 00 
bushels ])er acre have bei^n produced. The reclaimed 
swamp lands will be eminently fitted for its productio:;. 



176 

While this grain feeds a majority of the world's ].eople, 
the straw is excellent forage for horses and cattle. But 
the sugar cane will, perhaps, be the lariger crop on the 
richer lands, whether swamp, low hammock or high. The 
world's demand for the product of the cane is enlarging, 
the price is enhancing, and no substitute has yet j.een 
found that will adequately supply its place. Another in- 
centive to its production is the improved machinery 
brought into use in the last few years for converting its 
juice into sugar and syrup, and purifying its granulations 
up to the highest grades. 

FIELD PEAS. 

The cow pea is extensively grown, and produces excel- 
lent crops. It resembles the. bean family in the appear- 
ance of its foliage and the manner of its growth. It is 
common to sow them between the rows of corn at Ihe last 
plowing. They will produce from ten to twenty-five !)ush- 
els per acre, besides a large amount of forage. On ac- 
count of the luxuriant growth of the vine, on poor soils 
even, its culture as a gi^een crop, to be turned in, has been 
practiced by the farmers of Florida for many years. It 
has no superior as a renovator of worn soils. This plant 
also makes excellent hay. 

PEANUTS. 

The peanut, pinder, [goober or ground-pea, as the plant 
is variously called, grows well on almost any warm, light 
soil. The seed should be planted early in the spring. 
The after cultivation is simple. Fifty bushels to the acre 
is an averge crop. They are worth |1.00 to $3.00 per 
bushel, depending on the cultivation and variety. The 
nut produces an oil. which is said to be equal to the finest 
olive oil, and has a ready market for all that is manu- 
factured. 

OATS. 

This crop is grown in almost every county in the 
State, and yields good average crops of about fifteen to 
twenty bushels to the acre. 



177 

WHEAT AND RYE. 

Wheat and rye are grcwn in the northern tier of coun- 
ties; the former in a small way more for the lack of facil- 
ities for converting the grain into flower than from any 
other cause, there being no mills for such purpose; the 
latter is grown chiefly for winter pasturage. 

HAY. 

It is only within the past fifteen years that hay has 
assumed the position of one of the standard .'rops , now 
hay is harvested in every section of the State and put 
away for winter feed just as is done in more northerly 
States; the native grasses do best and make as fine and 
nutritious forage as the best grasses of the Northern or 
Middle States. It has long been a mistaken idea that the 
native grasses were not suitable for making hay, but a 
comparison with the best hay producing grasses of other 
latitudes, not only prove the contrary, but actually show- 
some of the native Forida grasses to be superior in ^i^ 
value. In the following table the first three named 
grasses are used as a fair criterion of the best hay grasses 
of the Western States. All the others are either naiive 
grasses or are perfectly adapted to the climate and soil of 
Florida. 

To those unfamiliar with the character and value of na- 
tive Florida grasses, the following table of aoalysia ot 
nutritive content and estimated market values, compiled 
by Mr. Peter Collier of the Agricultural Bureau at Wash- 
ington, may prove of interest : 

12 H. F. 



178 





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179 

THE VELVET BEAN. 

The Velvet Heaii is com para tivelv a now ciop in Flor- 
ida, having been first ex])erimented with in J 800; thoiigh 
it was in all probability cultivated as a trellis vine and 
shade for porches in the warm season. TBe writer remem- 
bers having seen as far back as 1875. in Alachua countj 
and also in Marion, what he has since recognized as the 
Velvet Bean; on both occasions it was growin:; in young 
orange groves, and the owners coni]tlainod of iho diffi<ul- 
ty of keeping ii from smothering, or choking (hf young 
trees; with that exc,e])tion they were even at (iiit time 
greatly pleased with it as a green cattle food; its threat- 
ening danger of groves ]>reventcd the extensive cultiva- 
tion, and little was thought of it; its origin had never 
been jirecisely tix(Hl. and at tlH» period referieJ to it was 
not known by any particular name. 

The ]>rinclpal uses of the Velvet Bean are as a reno- 
vator of worn soils, and as a stock food for farm ani- 
mals, in which case it has been demonstrated to be of great 
value either a»i a foraige crop or fed green, either cut or 
pastured. At present the climate of Florida seems best 
adapted to its cultivation because of the long season, but 
there is little loubt that in a few years its cultivation 
will be gradually extended further north: while it will 
probably mature seed better in a climate like our's, .';till 
for the purpose of soil renovating it is not absolutely nec- 
essary that it produce .seed; though it is tru'? that the 
nearer the plant approaches perfection, the greater is its 
value for the purpose intended. The Velvet Bean like 
most leguminous plants has the peculiar faculty of in- 
creasing the fertility of soils, while at the same time it 
yields the most nutritious of food crops. Velvet Beans 
are known to thrive on lands that other crops positively 
perish on, and two crops of the beans on such lands have 
been known to increase its productive capjicity to thp 
equal of cow penned land. It has been demonstrated by 
experiment, that one acre of Velvet Befins, including the 
vine, pods and roots contain about 100 pounds of nitro- 
gen, 240 pounds tf potash and 40 pounds of phosphoric 
acid; the actua' value of these ingredients being about 
$40.00. 



180 

The first and aiost important use to whicli the Velvet 
Bean may be applied is perhaps that of soil renovation. 
In Florida mm h of our land is abundantly supplied with 
humus or organic matter and nitrogen, though it is 
equally true that- the greater portion of [he Florida soils 
is very defici.'iit in these important substances. The vel- 
vet bean can accomplish for these i)Oor soils of Florida 
v\^hat the cjv/pea can do for all the Sonthorn States. For 
us, however ths velvet bean has greater advantages and 
is to be preferred. Fnder the head of culture it has al- 
ready been in-ri-nled that the plan^ \< an excellent one 
from whicli forage may be obtained. It may be used as 
green pas1ui'a,^e. harvested and cons'erred into hay, or 
rattle and hs^gs iL'ay be turned in after maturity and ihe 
cron thus converted into meat at low cost. It has been 
used by some as a cover crop and as such proved satisfac- 
tory. The pod!^ after grinding furnisli a foo<l rich in ])r<»- 
tein that is m lished by poultry, cattle and hogs. This 
food is now on the market in some parts of the State. For 
many yeara it has been used as aa ornamental and as 
such is still in high favor. 

TOBACCO. 

From the earliest settlement of Florida tobacco lias 
been found td Y.c well adapted to both the climate and soil, 
ii'jd has been at different periods, and in different locali- 
ties extensively: cultivated. A numbe:* of varieiies »»f 
jnarked difference in character and quality are cultivated 
in various sections of the State. Experience has demon- 
strated the fact that Florida tobacco possesses a fineness 
and elasticity In the leaf that admirably fits it for the 
manufacture i>f cigars; it also mnkeg an excellent wrap- 
per. The great bulk of the cigar tobacco growing is con- 
fined to Gadsden County, though a number of other 
counties also engage in it quite extensively. The lands 
of Gadsden County are found to be pecul'arly adapted to 
tobacco growing. It is in this county, also, to some ex- 
tent in Leon, that Sumatra tobacco is grown on such an 
extensive scale I'nder shade ; in fact this method of grow- 
ing tobacco in this section has almost entirely superced- 
ed the growing of that weed in the open. The tobacco 
grown in this way produces the finest of all cigar 



■\ ISl 

wrappers and the better grades brinji vecy Iii.^h ])rioes, 
ranging from iOo per pound to |1.50. So it is readily seen 
what the possibilities of the industry are when sve find 
that the land produces with proper care and attention, 
from 800 to 1,000 pounds per acre. In thvi other counties 
or sections of the State numerous varieties of tobacco are 
grown, but the Cuban tobacco of the Vuelti Abaja va- 
riety predominates, as it is specially adapted to the manu- 
facture of the better grades of cigars, and also wrappers. 
Other counties ])roducing tobacco for the ruirpose snggest- 
ed are, Calhoun, Liberty, Pasco, Polk, Columbia. Her- 
nando, and Washington. The manufacturing pa it of the 
business is carried on principally in Tampa and Key 
West, but these places consume only imported Cuban to- 
bacco. Almost every town of importance in the State ha.s 
one or more cigar factories, and in these both ihe Florida 
and Cuba tobaccos are worked up into cigars and sold to 
the trade. Th? value of the cigars manufactured in Flor- 
ida during the year 1903, amounted to near .f 11.000.000. 
CASSAVA. 

Cassava gr/jws in the sandy soils of every section of 
Florida. Whilr* It' has been cultivated to a considerable 
extent for probably thirty years, tlie general usefulness 
.and all-around V;ilae of the plant had not made much im- 
pression upon the public [generally, until a .comparative!^ 
recent period. 

The name ''^ 'assava'' should i)roperly apply only to the 
purified starch derived from the roots of the plant, but it 
has passed into general use to designate the plant itself. 
The plant is kn >Avn by various names, as, for instance. 
Janivhn manihof, ^fanihot utilissima, Jatrojiha ^fanihot. 
Manihot ai])i, Manihot loeflingii. and ^fanihot nalmata. 
One of its common names is Manioc plant. The fleshy 
root of this plant yields the greatest portion of the daily 
food of the natives of many portions of tropiciil ATn'»rIra. 
and one of its forms of starch is imported largely into 
this country as 1aiiio< a* Tt is a woody or shrubby plan^. 
growing fT-oni llfsliy. tuberous roots, the sfenis being 
smooth. w:tli nodui'^s whore the leaves grow. 



•Three form's of tanioco are recognized in commerce, 

pearl ta])ioca. f?ake tai)iocn. and taoicua flour. The latter 

would b'^ mor-* ;!ji]troj(riafely called tnpioca starch or 
cassava starch. 



182 

Thero is pioi>eily only one variety of the planr growing 
in Florida, whiie that variety which grows in the Tropics 
contains so much hydrocyanic acid as to render it poison- 
ous. The variety grown in the sub-tropical region of 
Florida, however, contains only a small quantity of hydro- 
cyanic acid, and is therefore commonly known as sweet 
cassava. Some of the growers of the plant in Florida 
claim that two varieties grow in the State, one of which is 
poisonous on account of the large amount cf hydrocyanic 
acid which it contains, and the other nonpoisonous, as it 
contains only a Utile hydrocyanic acid. It i« quite prob- 
able, however, that atfter the poisonous variety has grown 
for a long while in a subtropical climate it would lose 
laiigely its poisonous properties. The leaves of the pois- 
onous variety in the Tropics usually have seven branches, 
palmately divided. The leaves of the sweet variety are 
usually only five parted. The botanists clearly recognize 
two distinct vyrioties. For instance, in the Treasury of 
Botany (p. 718 1 the following remarks are made: 

it is quite clciir that while the root of one is bitter and 
a violent poison, that of the other is sweet and wholesome 
and is commonly eaten cooked as a vegetable. IJotli of 
them, especially tlie bitter, are most extensively cultivated 
over the greatoi? part of tropical America and yield an 
abundance of wholesome and nutritious food, the poison 
of the bitter kind being got rid of during the process of 
preparation it undergoes. The ])oisonous expressed juice, 
if allowed to settle, deposits a large quantity of starcli 
known as Brazilian arrowroot or tapioca meal, from 
which the tapioca of the sho])s is prepared by simply tor- 
refying the moist starch upon hot jdates. the heat ciiusing 
the starch grains to swell an<l burst and become aggluti- 
nated together. A sauce called cassareep. used for flavor- 
ing soups and other dishes. i>articularly the West Indian 
dish known as ]iep]ier hot, is also prepared from this juice 
by concentrating and rendering it harmless by boiling. 
Another of flip products of cassava is an intoxicating bev- 
eraige called i>iwarrie, but the manner of preparing it is 
not calculated to rerder it tempting to Kuro]>can.^. ft is 
made by the w<.men, who chew cassava cakes and throw 
the masticated materials into a wooden bowl, where it is 
allowed to fr'rment for some days and then boiled. It ia 
said to have an agreeable taste. 



183 I 

CASSAVA AS AJN ARTICLE OF FOOD. 

The sweet cassava as grown in Florida is a common 
article of diet, an well f.s the source of the domestic starch 
nsed over large portions of the peninsula. The roots of 
the cassava are grated and used directly as human food, 
and they are also fed to cattle, pigs, mules and horses 
with very happ> effects, being a food which K? greatly rel- 
ished. Cassava flour is prepared as a domestic product i» 
many parts of Florida and other localities where the 
cassava is grown. In the preparation of cassava flout 
the root is peeled, chopped into thin slices or grated, 
spread in the sun for two or three days until sufficiontlj 
dry, and then ground into a fine powder. In this State it 
is used for making a kind of bread for puddings and for 
other culinary purposes. In the making of ]>uddings the 
addition of milk, eggs, sugar, etc., to suit the taste, i3 
recommended. As a substitute for wheat Hour in making 
bread, the cassava flour is of course inferior in igeneral 
nutritive and cnlinary properties. It contains an exces- 
sive amount of carbohydrates, and is therefore not as well 
babi.ced a ration as bread which is made from wheat. 
For instance, in ordinary wheat flour the nitrogenous 
bodies vary from 8 to 14 per cent., while in casssiva Hour 
they rarely reach as much as 2 per cent. The chemical 
composition of the cassava roots and of the cassava I'our, 
as determined in the laboratory, is shown in the following 
tables : 

compositio:n of cassava root (dry mattery 

Serial number .'.o47 

Per cent? 

Ash 1 .95 

Petroleum ether extract (fat) 1.27 

Ether extract ) resins, organic acids. o\c.) 74 

Alcohol extract famids. sugars, glucosids, etc) .... 17.4.^ 

Crude fiber ... 4.03 

Starch *'' 71*35 

Protein (nitrogcnx6.25) 3,47 

100.75 



184 

COMPOSITION OF CASSAVA FLOUR. 

Serial numbers 5922 51)23 

Per cent. Per cent. 

Moisture 10.56 1 1.86 

Ash 1.86 1.L3 

Petroleum ether extract (fat) 1.50 .86 

Ether extract (resins and organic acids) . .64 .43 

Alcohol extract (amids, sugars, glucosids) 13.69 4.50 

Dextrin, gum, etc., by difference 2.85 5.63 

Crude fiber 2.06 4.15 

Protein (nitrogenx6.25) 1.31 1.31 

Starch 64.63 70.13 

Most extraordinary statements have been made in re- 
gard to the yield of cassava per acre. Careful measure- 
ments, however, made under the direction of rhis division, 
show that the magnitude of the crop is usually vory much 
less than is stated in the reports which have been made. 
An average crop, under favorable conditions, may be 
placed at 5 tons of roots per acre. In many cuses, how- 
ever, the yield, Vv^here no fertilization is practiced and 
where the roots are grown upon sandy soil, is much less 
than this. In the statement above, showing the composi- 
tion of the root, the analysis of a single sample of roots is 
given. 

Cassava is distinctively a starch-forming crop, and be- 
longs essentially to the carbohydrate division of foods. 
It is therefore a cliaracteristic fat-former, and when ]irop- 
erly used, becon.es one of the most economH-al heat and 
fat-forming ariu-Ies of food for all classes of animals as 
well as human beings. 

But the greatest value which the crop possesses lies in 
the cheapness wHh which fat-forming matovial may be 
produced in thi<( shape, while its economical ]H)sit!on de- 
pends npon th" recognized desirability of producincc at 
home the greatest possible supply and variety of foods for 
home consum])lion. Feeding experiments have fully 
proven that cassava is not a perfectly balanced food, in 
other words, it does not contain flesh forminj: and fat 
forming material? in the exact ])roportion necessary to 
secure the best ]»ossible results from its use, or ihe great- 
est economy from feeding it alone; and yet it is nn 



185 

doubtedly true, all things cousideied, that -j^ssava comc"?^ 
about as near suj^plyinj: a more ijerfett ration for fn.rni 
stock than any other crop produced upon Florida farms. 
As it is chiefly from the standpoint of its value ns a stock 
food that we arc considering it, and the immensely favor- 
able bearing it.-( production is at present havin?^ and will 
continue to ha>e on the successful raising of live stock :n 
this State, an industry that is assuming vast proportions, 
and profitableness, we will consider it briefly iS a mixed 
food, combined as shown below. 

FEEDING EXPERIMENTS WITH VELVET BK.ANS 
AND CASSAVA IN COMBINATION. 

Thousands of acres of these two crops have been pro- 
duced during the past season and are now covered with 
the product in srifficient quantity to fatten thousands of 
cattle. The qn('<5lion now troublinig the owner is. how 
can the fattening constituents of the cassava be best com- 
bined with the muscle-making constituents of the velvet 
beans so as to form the most effective and economical ra » 
tion? That such a combination is desirable is not 
doubted. The ])r('portion and form in which the carbo- 
hydrate food should be combined with the protein ration 
is still the subject of inquiry. 

At the recent S^tate Fair, the Exj^erimeut r>tation had 
on exhibition tAvo steers which had been fed for (>0 days 
exclusively in rations containing these two crops for the 
sole purpose nf answei-ing by actual trial rhese (Queries. 
Incidentallv tin: feeding of t/ese steers was a T)ractical 
demonstration ;;f the possibility of these typical Florida 
feed -stuffs. 

The results of this experimei>t are here ])i'eser,ted as a 
guide to farmers with these two crops which thev wish 
to utilize to greatest advantage. They at the same rime 
serve as a further illustration of the possibilities of 
Florida for the <levelopment of a great beef-na.kin ; indus- 
try. The animals fed <(msisted of one typical native 
Florida i'ioor ;i!id one gra<le shorthorn ste^r. The two 
therefore furn:>*hcd a com]iarison between the native and 
a cross of the Fame with recognized beef blood. 

Feed used — The feeding began on Septemb.^r II. TIio 
beans wei-e theicfore used as grf^Mi f«^d. the titans bein"' 



18i 

just formed at tlio beginning of the period and mature 
at the end. Pasturing would probably have been the 
cheapest way to feed a large herd, but for our small num- 
ber, and that the material might be weighed and an ac- 
curate account kept, soiling was practiced, the material 
being cut morning and evening. Cassava and cotton seed 
meal were used with the green feed, the meal being 
needed as a concentrate to balance the ration. Later in 
the season the use of ground velvet beans would have 
obviated this necessity and cheapened the ration. 

QUALITY AND COST OF RATION PER DAY. 



V. B. Forage. 


Cassava. 


0. S. Meal. 


Cost. 


Native 381bs. 


161bs. 


41bs. 


7.6c 


Grade 611bs. 


241bs. 


61bs. 


11.50 



The cost of ration is based on the followins? value pep 
ton : Forage 30c, cassava |3, cotton seed meal |23.50. 

The cassava was run through a root-cutter and then 
mixed with the nieal. The forage was fed fresh and was 
intended to be before the steers all the time, they receiv- 
ing all they would eat up clean. 

COST OF GAINS MADE. 





+- 

^ 




jC 








<r3 




."." 


^ 


c 


Zw 


. 




o 




c 


.4 




O 


ns 




Ch 






'a; 


^ 


a; 
rll 

O 


O 
O 

o 


K 

c 






CJt 


cS 


a 


-t- 


-M 


c; 


«c ^ 






a 


.•1 


ac 


m 


■^ 


o u 




!-4 






O 


O 


c 


U O) 




O 


fe 


c 


O 


O 


£-t 


P^ PU 


Native , , 


, . 732 


862 


130 118.30 14.56 |22.86 


-t!7.31 32.0 


Grade . . , 


...1190 


1404 


214 


41.65 


6.90 


48.55 


7.01 15.6 



The purchase price of the native steer was 2\ cents \>ev 
pound; the selling price was 3^ cents. The purchase 
price of the grade steer was 3| cents and the selling j)r)ce 
was 4 cents. The percentage [gain of the two animals 
during the 60 day period* was : Native 17.6 per cent., 
grade 18 per cotU. 



187 

The small^^r comparative profit from the grade steer 
was due to the fact that he was in relatively better ton- 
dition when purrha<<ed and cost more i>er pound, while 
the average local market of Florida is at present not edu- 
cated to a full appreciation of the difference in quality of 
beef so that the selling price was lower than the superior 
quality would have secured in larger market.-^. In both 
cases, however, the increased value of fattened 1>eef over 
the range animal was demonstrated. The native steer 
sold for one cent and the grade for one half cent per 
pound above original purchase price. 

The increased value of the entire carcass as a result of 
feeding is the chief source of the profit since the feeder 
not only secures the increased weight resulting from the 
feeding, but also the increased value of ^the original 
weight as a re«)ult of improvement through the fattening 
process. 

ABEA AND FEEDING CAPACITY. 

The amount of land required for fattening steers by the 
use of cavassa and velvet beans is a most important con- 
sideration. The native steer used in this te?t was one of 
a pair running above the average size for range jmimals. 
Adopting 500 pounds as the average live weight of the 
native Florida steer and feeding liim at the same rate in 
proportion to his weight the quantity of velvet boan forage 
consumed per day would be about 26 pounds and of cas- 
sava 11 pounds. 

The yield of forage with the crop fed was ovei- 12 tons 
per acre and the cassava yield about 7 tous. At the 
rate of feeding riientioned the quantity required for a 60 
day period would be velvet bean forage 1560 pounds and 
of cassava 660 ponnds. Feding velvet beans and cassava 
in the form used with the native steer, one acre of velvet 
beans approximately balances two-thirds of an acre of 
cassava. Fed this way this ai-ea will feed fifteen average 
native Florida steers for market as fat beef if no time ia 
wasted in teaching the range animal to consume fed r?f 
tions. 



188 
VEGETABLE GROWING FOR MARKET. 

The success of vegetable growing for market in Florida 
is too well known to justify going into lengthy delail as to 
methods of cultivation or transportation; it is sufficient 
to say, that the same methods of cultivation are generally 
used here as in other States, except that they are adapted 
as to time of planting, to the seasons, and the transpor- 
tation facilities are abundant, both by rail and water. The 
great bulk of the trucking business is confined to East 
and South Florida, and it is no exaggeration to say rhat 
every vegetable of food value is produced in some portion 
of the State; among the most profitable crops, aie* toma- 
toes, beans, Irisli potatoes, celery, cabbages, lettuce, pep- 
pers and egf>; plnuts; from the growing of each these pro- 
ducts thousarnds of people reap a rich rewnrd for ilieir 
labor every year, and many of them make comforlablo for- 
tunes; most, if not all of these vegetables are grown at 
seasons of the year which enables them to command a 
monopoly of the markets, as well as prices. Many of 
these crops bring handsome returns. Tomatoes for in- 
stance, have violded as much as |1,000 per acns but ihe 
average run fnmi |300 to |500; Irish potatoes will average 
near |100 ; lettuce from |300 to |800 per acre, and celery 
as much as |1,500 per acre. All are .-emunerative to a 
proportionate degree. Melons of every kind and variety, 
from the pumpkin of New England to the priniitive gourd 
abound and thrive in every section of Florida. 

All are the lines r quality and the watermelon and can- 
taloupe rival in flavor and general edibilitv the best of 
more northern lalitudes; the two latter crops -avo specinllv 
remunerative, and are plnnted, grown and shi[)ped to 
market in immense quantities. 

As previously stated all the vegetable products; thrive 
and yield well in Florida, and on the average pay t\v?, 
growers well. From partial returns and estimate.' the 
vegetable crops of 100.'> brought into the Stal? lx'twe«?n 
$2,000,000 and .«.3.000,000. 

HONEY. 

TTonev has for uuniy years been classed anionj- the sfn- 
ple products, both the cliujiite and flora of Flovid;i l.)eii\g 



189 

specially adapted to a successful prosecution of the indus- 
try. Bees can work in all sections of the State almost the 
entire year, but in portions of South Florida, they have 
MO difticulty in working through the Vv'hole winter. The 
industry here pays handsome profits, and there is proba- 
bly no State where it pays better or with more certainty. 
There are a number of very large prairies in the State, 
notably at Hawks Park, in Volusia County, and at We- 
wahitehka in Calhoun County; W. S. Hart and S. S. Al- 
derman, respectively are the proprietors. Diseases such as 
are troublesome North are unknown here. The only seri- 
ous enemies here being the toads, ants, moths, draggon 
flies and the butcher bird. There are flowers of some kind 
all the time for bees to feed on. Some of the leading 
honey or pollen producing trees are, the orange, and all 
other citrus trees, the sweet gum, sweet myrtle, bay, mag- 
nolia, maple, willow, hickory, yonpm mock olive, saw 
palmetto, cabbage palmetto, and the mangrove; the two 
latter and the citrus trees being considered the finest 
honey producers as to quality in the world. No other 
trees or shrubs begin to compare with them, and it is en- 
tirely safe to say that the crop never fails. No more 
inviting field for this most profitable industry is to be 
'ound on North American soil. The yield of this product 
'or 1902. was over 700. 000 pounds. 



BRUITS, TROPICAL AND SEMI-TROPICAL. 

Perhaps no section of country of similar area upon the 
abitable globe, now known, can supply si^-rh p. v^^^^t nirn- 
er of delicious fruits of unsurpassed quality as Florida, 
'he list is a long one and we will describe them as briefly 
s is consistent with correctness, and their importance. 

THE ORANGE. 

The fame of this king of fruits has traveled down the 
•rridors of time, basking in the favor of all who were so 
rtunate as to come in contact with it. Its praises 
unded by Heroditus from the wilds of India, nearly 
'0 years B. C, its march down through the centuries, 



190 

has been triumphant to the present day, where we find it 
still gladdening the heart, assuaging the thirst, and faci- 
nating the eyes of a newer civilization. 

BITS OF HISTORY. 

Because it is an evergreen which bears almost continu- 
ously upon its expanding branches fruit in all stages of, 
perfection, and fragrant blossoms at the same time, is not^ 
alone the reason for its fascination of man ; in its gorge- 
ous dress it but typifies the beauty of everlasting life ; it 
has held firmly its sway as the monarch of fruit, as it 
comes down to us through the realms of the misty past, 
chronicled in song and story of romatic love. 

We read in ancient lore of the famous golden apples of 
the gardens of the Hesperides. Of the mala mcdlca of the 
Romans, mentioned by Virgil, Palladio and others, of the 
hiiron of the Greeks, the citrus of Josephus. All of these 
were handed down the line as being neither more nor less 
than the orange of modern times. When the crusaders 
invaded Syria, they found there numbers of magnificent 
orange trees, laden with fruit of such beauty and excel- 
lence as fairly enchanted them, so much so that they 
henceforth classed the orange tree as one of the "•indi- 
genous glories of the Holy Land." 

Whether this is all truth is questionable, but we will 
give one story in which the genuine orange hold a fasci- 
nating place in mythological lore at least. Out of the^ 
great catastrophe, the submergence of the continent of 
Atlantis, where th?: famous garden of the Hesperides were 
supposed to exist comes the fascinating 

STORY OF ATALANTA. 

"In the age of mythology lived a maiden whose name 
was Atlanta. Said an uncle to her one day : 'Atlanta, 
do not marry; marriage will be your ruin.' Therefore to 
all her suitors (for she was handsome and had money) 
she made a condition that she thought would effectively 
shield her from their persecutions.^ 'I will be the prize of 
him who shall conquer me in the race, but death must be 
the penalty of all who try and fail.' Now and then a hap- 
less youth would try, but invariably he suffered the penal- 



191 

ty of failure. \t length oauie a young man, liaudsome, 
brave, fleet of foot, HippomenuR. He loved Atahuitii, and 
determined to win her or die. But first, like a wise nian, 
he besought the aid of Venus. The goddess ohukod three 
golden apples from a tree tbt>t grew in hei*own ])rivate 
garden in tbe island of Cyprus. These she gave secretly 
to Hippomenus, iristructing him how to use them. And 
so the race commenced, Atalanta, be it known, having 
meantime. nuT'h fo her own suT'prise, come fo the couclu- 
,ion that it wonlf' be a great pity for so bennriru) a youth 
to be put to death. And yet her pride would not allow her 
to suffer herself to be beaten. So the race bej^nii : it was 
a close one. Tn'» s]»ectators cheered TTipT^omenns, but hfc 
felt his breath fa'iinjr. his throat ireTting dry. and the troal 
was yet afar off. Then he remembered Venus' instruc- 
tions. He diopned one of the golden apples. Atlanta had 
never seen anyrhing like it. so of course she slopped 1o 
pick it up. .\vid crafty Hippomenus shot far ahead. She 
saw. and by a great effort, caught up to him. Then he 
dropped another apple. Same insult. But now the goal 
was near at baud. 'O. Venus, prosper your gift.' cried 
poor, pantins Hippomenus. Then he thi-ew the one re- 
maining ball off to one side Atalanta hesitated, but its 
beauty was too great. She could not pass it hy. For the 
third time she stooped not to conquer, but to lose. For in 
that brief interval, happy Hippomenus daHed uj) to the 
goal, the winner of the race and of his bride. 

"The yovmg conple were so happy, so self-absorbed, that 
ihey forgot to thqnk the goddess to whom they owed it all. 
Ro she naturally felt apisrrieved. and se<»retly influenced 
them to offend the Goddess Cybele. The latter, in re- 
venge, changed them to a lion and lioness, an.-l yoked ihem 
to her car." 

And there you may soe them to this day. in all tbe 
paintings or statnes of the Goddess Cybele. 

This pretty story is one of ihp many roman<'(^s that are 
inten\oven with the history of the orange, which last, by 
tbe way. is the only substantial point in 'he ••arrative. 
But then, it loses nothing by that. We hardlv look for 
the truth amidst avowed fablrs and romances. All the 
same, it is the hi^lo thrown about the story of the oranG;e, 
wkich. first of all. invests it with what we might call a 



192 

theoretical interest, entirely distinct from its true, practi- 
cal, intrinsic value. 

NOT INDIGENOUS TO EUROPE. 

It was not i^ossibie that a fruit so popular should not 
give rise to speculation and discussion as to its true ori- 
gin. But this is all it amounted to, until the patient, 
pains-taking Galessio entered the lists. Then for the first 
time the noble orange was carefully traced back step by 
step, and the further he went, the plainer did the truth 
become it never was indigenous to Europe, all fables to 
the contrary notwithstanding. 

The first disrinct mention of the orange, assert'^s Gales- 
sio in his Traiti du Citrus, published in Paris in 1811, is 
made by the Arab«. These wandering sons of the desert, 
in the long, long ago, penetrated into the inierior of In- 
dia further than ever the conquering Alexander had gone 
before them. ITere they found the orange tribe of fruits 
growing in wild luxuriance. They carried them thence 
out into the world by two routes. The sweet (now called 
China) orange was taken through Persia to Syria, and 
from there to the shores of Italy and France. The bitter 
oranges, commercially called the Seville orange, was dis 
tributed through Arabia, Egypt, and the north of Africa, 
until it reached Europe by way of Spain and Portugal. 
Thus we see that the honor of being the birthplace of the 
orange belongs not to Europe, but to India — and to India 
only. For the '-golden apple" is not indigenous to Ameri- 
ca, as many have supposed. 

NOT OF AMERICAN ORIGIN. 

True, there are wild orange groves to be found in va- 
rious parts of America. There were once many such 
groves in Florida. But note this fact; Only where the 
Spanish and Portugese invaders landed and penetrated 
into the country are these wild !grov«s in existence. The 
great naturalist, Humboldt, traveling in South America, 
was amazed to come upon a broad belt of wild orange 
trees on the banks of the Rio Cedeno, growing in the 
midst of a dense forest. Naturally he deemed that tbcy 
must be indigenejus to the soil. But he was not one to 



193 

"take things fur g^ranted/' He made careful iiiqiiii'v and 
discovered that these trees, so laden with large, delicious 
sweet oranges that the branches touched the ground, were 
raised from seeds given the Indians by their Spanish con- 
querers years ;md years before. To this same source does 
our beautiful Florida owe her wild orange groves. Only 
here, however, it may be, the wild orange Is not sweet, 
but sour. 

Ponce de Leoa and his successors, but especially the 
unfortunate French colony on the St. Johns, whom the 
butcher Menendcz massacred, ''not as Freachmeii but as 
heretics," were directh^ instrumental in in+rodn<ing into 
Florida the noble fruit whose destiny, as one of lier ])rin- 
cipal sources of wealth, has since been so plainly indica- 
ted. The orange then, you see, is not a native, hut raiher 
a naturalized citizen of the United States. 

Now let us turn to the more serious side of the subject, 
that which most intea:^sts the party who wishes to know 
its practical side, out of which a living and the surplus 
dollars are to come, to him who would build a home. In 
the first place making orange groves is not a pastime, and 
the more thoroughly Ihe incoming settler realizes the truth 
that it is not pluy to "make" a grove, that orange growing 
is a regular business, to be conducted on business j)rinci- 
pies; also that it requires, like all other business ])ursuits, 
the investment of more or. less capital, a great deal of 
care, judgment and pluck; the more thoroughly he realizes 
all this the better it will be for him and foi* Florida. ITere, 
as elsewhere over the world, the universal law is in force 
— nothing that is worth having can be had without wort 
and perse vera (K-e. That such work and perseverance will 
reap their reward thousands of men and women have 
proved; and thiuisands more are today rolling up their 
sleeves, prepai-ed to prove it yet again. 

So many have come to Florida full of wild visions, im- 
bued with the idea that all they had to do was to stick 
the trees in the ground anywhere, everywhere, und then 
sit down for a :^ear or two in order to have golden fruit 
dropping into their laps, golden coin rattling in their 
pockets, that we would here sound a note of warning. 

We would urge him who seeks health and a competence; 
aye, and wealth, to come to Florida and make unto hira- 

13 H. F. 



194 

lelf an orange grove. But also we would have him know 
that this coveted ixjssession is not to be obtained without 
the expenditure of time, labor and patience, or their equiv- 
alent in money. The latter, if he is so fortunate as to be 
able to purchase a grove ready started. 

As a matter of course, everybody knows, of ought to 
know, that oranges cannot be raised to profit in all parts 
•of Florida — ''ought to know," because there seems to be 
some misapprehension abroad as to the real status of 
Florida in regard to size and consequent variations of 
temperature. The truth is that Florida is a very large 
«tate. Stretching north and south, her beautifu! ever- 
green forests and sparkling rivers and lakes -pread grand- 
ly over the face of the earth for a distan<'e of four 'nin- 
dred miles. Nov/, we all know that four hnn<lre(l miles 
from north to south anywhere in the temperate zone, is 
sufficient to cause considerable difference In'tAveen the 
winter temjjerature of places located at eithei* extremity. 
And this is especially true of Florida, l-^ach degree 
marks a decided change of temperature, ^ar mor^ so than 
the same ustance in the mainland states. Just think for 
a moment ! Florida is one of the largest scutes in ihe 
whole Union, the largest of any east of the Mississippi 
river. It is sp\%pn times as large as Massa?liuett?(. It is 
larger than all the following named states rolled into 
one: New Ham]>shire, Vermont. Massac'insett-* New 
Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Rhode Tslan<^ Tt is 
one-fourth larger than the state of New Yot'C. It woali?. 
cover "old England" out of sight, and leave a nice little 
margin of nine thousand square miles besides. And as to 
Greece, Belgium and Switzerland, vou might roll them 
np together. dr<ip them down upon Florida's brood bosom, 
and then have ji sharp hunt to find thom nri'.^sr lier l.'ikes 
and forests. 

Neither thr" extremp northern poV tlihp exti'«-.nv> f^mith- 
ern counties of Florida are adapted to the cnltnre of the 
orange. Tt canno' endnr-e the freonent fro.^ts of the 
fonper. nor <^oes it flnprish po' thriftlv in the r ytreme 
southern portions of the peninsula as in the more central 
sections. The iriTC orange belt of the Stale lies betwej^n 
the parallels of latitude 2A\ and 20\. north and south, 
extending from the Gulf to the Atlantic. While bearing 
trees ai-e found in almost every county in the Rfate, vet 



1!^ 

Ibe favorite habitat of the golden fruit is unmistakablT 
indicated by the extensive wild groves of tho central lake 
regions, when once on a time they grew as luxuriantly in 
the section above named. Here located between ihe 
boundaries described we find the true Florida climate. 
Here the orange reaches the climax of perfection and 
richness. To this region is due the fame of the Florida 
orange. In this belt, so-called, are the couuties which 
produce the great crops for commerce; they are Orange, 
Volusia, Marion, Brevard, Polk, Sumter, Lake, OscsoFa, 
DeSoto, Lee, H'v^ruando, Pasco,^ Hillsborough, Dade and 
Manatee. In this section orange culture attains its high- 
est ideal. 

Most of the soJIt* within the orange belt will produce 
jood oranges. IHut of course, some are better ..dapted to 
its rapid growth than others. The richer the land, the 
more vigorously the tree will grow, the more abundantly 
it will fiiiit. The orange tree is a gross ^eeder, and the 
more it eats, provided its home is a healthy one, Ihe bet- 
ter for its owner. 

Hammock lands are richer in humus and potash than 
the pine lands. Both of these elements of vegetable 
growth are especially needed by the orange; hence its 
growth on hammock land is quicker than on pine land. 
But this is true, as a rule, only at the outset. In a few 
years the hammock grove will have devoured all the food 
"lying around l<M)Ke," and then it must be fed, like the 
pine land grove, from its owners pockets. Hammock 
lands, in the sou^e localities, cost far more than the pine 
lands, both in the original purchase money lud in the ex- 
pense of clearing. There are magnificent groves on ham- 
mock land, but there are also many others just as valua- 
ble located on pine lands. In fact, the adhei*ent«t of the 
latter are growing in numbers year by year. The fact i» 
that there is little to choose between them. Both are the 
home of the orange. The one costs more at the outset in 
the price of the land and its preparation; the »ther costs 
more in fertilizing materials. 

Also, hammock lands are scarce as compared with the 
pine lands, and the latter are more healthful, as a rule, 
for dwelling pli:ces. The better class of pine land is as 
well adapted (o the thrifty growth of the orange as en 
the hammock lands, especially when the former is roll 



19G 

injg, hence well drained, and some hickory is mixed with 
the pine. Black-jack oak grows on a soil that is health- 
ful to the orange, but it is apt io be deficient in humus, 
and this, with nitrogenous fertilizers, must be supplied 
for best results. 

It was once fcccepted as a fact that the orange tree 
would not flourish on low lands, but that a high and dry 
location was absolutely imperative. Now-a-days, how- 
ever, it has been abundantly proven that orange trees 
will do, and are doing well on low lands, hammock as well 
as pine, that they grow as fast, bear as abundantly, and 
their fruit stands shipping just as well as if grown on the 
top of a hill. The truth is that, among many other things 
in this always new and ever expanding tield, wo are find- 
ing out that the orange is not as temperate in its habits as 
was supposed. It is, in fact, more "given to drink" than 
its friends believed. 

While we would not advise the settler, other things be- 
ing equal, to select "flat woods" for his grove, yet, if such 
lands were offered at a decided advantage as to price, lo- 
cation as to near shippinig points, health and society, over 
other lands in the desired neighborhood, we would advise 
him to take to the "flat woods" without fear, if he is 
willing to look properly after his trees. 

And so we see that the orange is a good deal of a 
cosmopolitan, and will flourish in a variety of soils. 
Wherever you can find clay or marl from two to six feet 
below the surface, there locate your grove without fear. 

With most persons, the great difference between the 
prices of hammock and pine lands is sufficient to de- 
termine the purchase of the latter. Where pine land of 
the best quality can be bought for from ten to twenty-five 
dollars an acre, adjoining hammock land is held at from 
twenty-five to one hundred dollars an acre, often even 
higher than this. Again, it costs not less than fifteen to 
fifty dollars m acre to properly clear hammock land, 
while the sam.e result may be accomplished on pine land 
at from ten to twenty-five dollars. And by the word 
"properly" here we mean to thoroughly clean out the un- 
derbrush and small trees from the hammock, leaving the 
large trees for protection of the grove, and on the pine 
land, to leave the ground clear and smooth, no unsightly 



197 

stumps left to oii(;ourage the growth of weeds and the 
presence of wood-lice. 

But there is ;>iie point that we would impress upon the 
intending grove-owner. However much or little the land 
may cost, it should invariably be selected near some as- 
sured shippiu» point, either present or prospective, when 
the trees shall have "come into bearing.'' 

It is better to pay one hundred dollars an acre for five 
acres near a railroad station or steamboat landing than 
pay ten dollars an acre for fifty acres five or more miles 
distant. 

It is impos-^ible here to go into the questio)i of the va- 
rious methods of culture. The intending settler can find 
detailed instriictions on this vital subject in works devo- 
ted to Florida fruit culture, Some advocate "clean cul- 
ture," keeping the ground clear all the time. Others be- 
lieve in seeding the ground with cow peas and oiher simi- 
lar crops, and adding the humus thus formed to the soil. 
The clean-culturists seem to be steadily losing their ad- 
herents as experience in orange culture deepens and 
broadens. 

But recent opinion of thoughtful persons, based upon 
observations and experience, is that the grove of the fu- 
ture will be set in one beautiful green turf of Hermuda 
or other permnnent grass; that the tender rootlets of the 
trees will be no more torn and lacerated by plow or culti- 
vator or hoe. Thf^t they will he fed by the decaying roots 
and nuik'hed }>y the tops of the grass aroun 1 tliem, and 
by a top dresfMng of such fertilizers as the soil may re- 
quire to furnish them food. 

Will orange t;rowin|g pay? is a question i.o longer 
asked. There are in round numbers 4.000.0(H) growing 
orange trees in the State, of which 1,000,000 .ire at pres- 
ent bearing tree': in different stages of bearing; in round 
figures the nuniher of boxes produced in l^tO:^. were 1,.^00,- 
000, and having a valuation of .f.3..500,000. Tn these ijg- 
ures is found the answer. There are eiqfh^««eu counties in 
all that !7ro\v ryrjirices for market to a (^rf^ate." or h»ss ex- 
tent. We hnvc r.lready given the list of thos*^ producing 
the great bulk f." the coinuiercinl crop: the nlirrs are: 
Alachua. Tew. T»utnam. St. .Tohns. Duval and Tnlhoun. 

But a word of caution. A great many ■)f those who 
seek homes in a Southern clime nrp not able io nurchase a 



198 

l)earing groves nor to sit and wait to bring one into bear- 
ing, therefore ^hey must rely upon th^ planting of other 
croi)S to yield a living in the interval, in other words th^ 
must practice diversified agriculture. Florida is prolific 
in products, but she is no exception to the rule, people 
cannot live here without work any more than elsewhere. 
While the orange has been a powerful agency in the up- 
building of Florida, and directly and indirectly it has en- 
riched thousands and has undoubtedly mainly been in- 
strumental in doubling the population and wealth of East 
and Southern Florida, still the greatest success in orange 
growing is by tbose who diversify their crops. 



OTHER CITRUS FRUITS, 

Grape Ft'uit, or Pomello, Lemons, Limes, Citron, Etc. 

It will be unnecessary to go into extended detail re- 
garding the cultivation of these fruits, since the romarkB 
we have made Avith regard to soil, climate and culture re- 
quired for the orange, will apply equally t(f them. We 
will say, howevor, that these varieties of citrus fruits are 
not quite as hardy as the orange, that is, will not stand 
quite the same defiree of cold. 

The igrape fruit or pomello, is a large fruit on the order 
of the orange, except that it is much large? and coarser 
grained fruit. For many year^ it was considered unfit 
for any purpose except as an ornamental shrub; in recent 
years, however, it has grown into popular favor, till it is 
now considered one of the most delicious of fruits, and 
brings fancy prices in the market's, the prices ranging 
from 17.00 to $10.00 per crate. A single tree has been 
known to yield one hundred dollars worth of fruit at one 
crop; but the average of course is much less. 

Shaddock — Is a fruit similar to the Pomello, but much 
larger and coarser, having little value in the markets. 

Lemons — One of the most widely known, and universal- 
ly grown of the tropical fruits, thrives perfectly in the 
southern section of the vState. Its culture is particularlj 
successful in Manatee, Southern DeSoto, Lee. Dade and 
Southern Brevard counties; they are grown \\'itli virying 



199 

•nccess in several other countiesjbut not of cominerciaJ 
importance. The lemon tree bears at all seasons of the 
year. 

Limes — This fruit is a prolific bearer, and mak(;s a most 
wholesome and excellent drink. It thrives best in the far 
south, and bears nearly the whole year round. They, like 
the lemon, are easily propagated and come into bearing 
early. The green fruit is often made .nto piesenes. 
Quite a large and profitable business is done, and ihe 
juice expressed and bottled is a favorite article nf com- 
merce. 

Citron — Is a straggling shrub, is a healthy, vigorou* 
grower, and a prolific bearer, considering the immense 
eize of the fruir which it bears. It requires support 
while the fruit is ripening. It is not as hardy as either 
the lemon or the orange. It grows well in the far south- 
ern portion of the orange sections. There are some fine 
groves in Lee County, where the tree, or more proj>er]y the 
shrub, maks luxuriant growth. Some tjxcellent speci- 
mens of the prepared fruit have been put oe the market 
at prices very remunerative, the quality being fully equal 
to the very best imported article. 

Banana — One of the most popular of tropical fruits, 
belongs to the plantain family, which is now admitted to 
be among the mo&t nutritious of all fruits. There are 
many varieties, of which quite a number are grown in 
the various secticius of the State. Only the hardy Afri- 
can variety grows in the northern and western portion of 
the State; the finer flavored and more delicate varietie* 
being grown for commerce in South Florida. In die lat- 
led locality they do well, and a fairly good trade is done 
in this fruit each year. The better market varieties are 
the Fig, Dwarf Red, Cavendish and Lady-Finger. AVith 
a little care this fruit will rij)en in all sections of Florida, 
and even if it did not, it supplies a place as an ornamental, 
that no other does, in lending a rich tropical appearance 
to the surroundings of any home. It is not as a food pro- 
ducing plant alone that the banana is valunlde; tiie plant 
belongs to the (;rder of ^hisas. and is clos'^lv allied to tho 
M. Textedis or Manilla hemp of the Philippines. It furn- 
ishes an excellent fibre of extreme tenacity .ind durability, 
and is worked to a considerable extent jis n tibre i)roduc- 
ing plant in some of the far eastern islands. 



f 200 
PINEAPPLES. 

The culture of this fruit on a commercial scale datea 
back to about twenty-five j-ears, when almos: ihe enure 
crop was produced on the keys lining the coast, from 
North Biscayne Bay to Key West. Then the fruit was 
dumped into the hold of a sailing vessel, and carried to 
Key West, where it was transferred to a vessel of one of 
the steamship lines touching at that port en route to New 
York or some other Atlantic coast port in the United 
States. Even under these difficulties the industry was a 
profitable one. It could not of course attain very large 
proportions with such limited transportation facilities. 
Now since the construction of the East Coast Railway 
from Jacksonville to Miami, the facilities for handling 
the crop are ample, and the crop has grown in proportion 
to the facilities for handling it. The growimr of pine- 
apples is not however confined to the Indian River or East 
CqAst country. Pineapples are grown in rhe following 
counties for market: Brevard, Dade, Monroe, Lee, 
Hillsborough, DeSoto, Orange, Polk, Pasco, A^'olusia^ 
Lake, and Osceola. By far the larger number nre 'grown 
in the first seven counties above named, beginning with 
the order given, and even in these the gr?at bulk of the 
product is grown in the two first named counties. The 
pineapple is to some extent an air plant, and like most 
plants of that nature thrives? best upon Iiigh, light, dry. 
sandy soil. For no plant is so particular as to the char- 
acter of soil rerinired for its perfect develoimient. 

"The physic-;)^ charasfoi'istics of a soil are of primary 
importance, and determine largely the adaptability of a 
soil to certain crops. Moisture is the all-important fa'*- 
tor in controlling jdant life and uponr its vupi^lv dopcTids, 
to a great extei>1, the kind of vegetation best su-'tcd to a 
soil. 

"In a general way all our pineapple soils are shown to 
belong to the sr-.roe type, a ty])e which is nsaiked by the 
absence of any appreciable amount of vpry fine sand. silt, 
and clay. Thf» capacity of fhoso soils for holding water 
is not great. ina«innr-h as the instcrstiiial spaces are rela- 
tively large and arc not alto'rctlH^r <anillai-". out arc only 
such near the points of contact of the soil grains. In 
coarse, sandy soils, jtercolatinn and (lrain.M<.'\' take plai-e 



201 

rapidly on account of these large inter-sHtial ojienings^ 
but in soils of fine texture, a preponderance of these 
spaces are capillary, hence, the water holdiu^^ capacity of 
the soil is much increased and percolation is greatly di- 
minished. 

"The first essential feature to be considered in the kb- 
► lection of a soil for pineapple culture is the temperature 
to which the locality is likely to be subjected. In Flori- 
da the bulk of the pineapples must be grown south of lati- 
tude 28 degrees, aS north of this, and indeed for thirty or 
forty miles south of this line, killing frosts are likely to 
occur any winter. The fruit is grown many miles north 
of 28 degrees, but protection from cold by ineans of close 
Bheds and artificial heat is necessary. This is so ex- 
pensive that only fancy varieties can be profitably grown 
under such corditions. Latitude alone doe^ not de- 
termine how L)W lhe thermometer may be expected to reg- 
ister, for we have what are term cold streaks far south of 
localities where frost rarely occurs. Proximity to large 
bodies of water materially influences the tem]>erature of 
a locality. The vrater, on account of its great rapacity 
for absorbing boat, becomes warm dinin;; the day and at 
night when the temperature of the air <lroj'-< ihe boat ab- 
sorbed by the w.Tter is slowly given otf and in turn moder- 
ates the temperature of the snrroundi)!?; almosphere. 
Another factor vrhich has a decided influence is Ihat of 
elevation abovo the surrounding country. Such n point 
well elevated above a considerable area > h<\Ttpd by ihe 
warm air whir-h rises from th^ lower level. It is a well 
known fact that wann air is lighter than cold air. and 
when frost occurs it is found deridedly 'leaA'ier in low 
places. Told air drops into these depressions and forces 
the warm air u])ward. so that the elevated points arp not 
chilled so much as joints on a lower plane. It will be 
understood that this applies only to moder-al" clival i.Mts, 
such as we may find in t^outhern Florida. 

"It has been found that a system of clearin;)^' so us to 
facilitate a free circulation of the air has ^[reaTlv lessened 
the liability of frost in sp^tions on the Eas!" Toast. Afanv 
localities in that region which at one time were decided- 
ly frosty, are rj^rely injured now by cold and this is at- 
tributed to the large amount of clearinir that has been 
done in the neighborhood. When the land is elevate<T 



202 

along the river fvont, it is advisable to cl^ar out the un- 
dergrowth at least between the flelris and the river so that 
free circulation of the air may be establish<Ml. 

"In selecting a location, one must of course lake into 
consideration tlic facilities which exist for shipping. Most 
of the land on tho East Coast upon which pineapples can 
be successfully grown is near the railroad." In other 
pineapple sections of the State this is not necessarily the 
case, and the i>inpapple fields are located near railroads 
mostly because of the convenient shipping facilities. We 
cannot go into length on the subject of planting and cul- 
tivation, but experience encourages the planting of slips 
and suckers immediately after picking, not leaving them 
to dry as is sometimes done for weekfi. And in so doing 
we prefer not to trim them. This is oppose! to the gen- 
eral practice, x^gain, suckers are sold at higher prices 
than the slips, bvit fhe latter are prefer ab'e. 

New plantat OKM are made usually from Au^^ust to Oc- 
tober. The slips, growing out at the base of the fruit, the 
suckers which Rpring from the axils of the leaves near 
the ground, and the crowns from the apex of the fruit, are 
all used in making new plantations. When tbe fruit is 
gathered the slips are left for a month or more upon the 
stem to grow, i^^^ch slips as are una^^oidubly broken off 
with the fruit, if slips are scarce, can be planted imme- 
diately, though they may be small. Each plant will send 
up from one t j three suckers from near the ground. The 
one nearest the ground should be left for the next crop, 
the others removed and planted. The slips will require 
eignteen months to develop fruit, but the plants will be 
fetrong and the fruit large. The first crop is usually the 
most even and abundant. How long a plantation can be 
kept in profitable bearing is not yet certain. On the com- 
mon white sand with only ordinary care three good suc- 
cessive crops have been grown. 

The planting of pineapples is one of the i^u^st profitable 
industries which South Florida offers to those v^iio de- 
sire to engage in fruit (growing. 

The crop of lOOr* amounted to. in roun 1 numbei"S, 
7,000,000 pinenj'ples. valued at a little less than $800,000. 

But it is not r.lone as a fruit producing plant that gives 
value to the pineapple; it has lone: been noted for the 
fineness and strength of its fibre, wliich has been used in 



203 

many ways for a long time in Eastern countries especial' 
ly. It has also been manufactured into fibre in Florida, 
by one or two companies. We are informed that tue 
^'Florida Fibre C( mpauy" of Jacksonville \h engaged in 
its manufacture 

It has been c?aimed that in both its wild and cultivated 
forms the pineapple yields fibres which, when spun, sur- 
pass those obtained from the ideal flax in strength, fine- 
ness and lustre. 

I It has been staled that a certain quaniity of the fibre 
prepared at Singapore tested against an equal quantity 
of flax sustaintd 350 pounds, while the biTler could not 
bear more thau 200 pounds. Another advantage held to 
be peculiar to i>iueapple fibre is imperviousness to mois- 
ture. Ropes made of it are thus said to withstand con- 
stant immersion in water; and for the samj reason and 
its non-liability to rot it is used in India for threading 
necklaces. 

As to the characteristics that render it readily adapt- 
able for textile purposes it has been observed by one writ- 
er on the subjet that the mere process of bleaching suf- 
fices to destroy the adhesion between the bundles of fibres, 
and so renders it lit for spinning in the ;^ame way as flax. 
It has been confidently asserted that the fibre can be em- 
ployed as a substitute for silk, and as a aiatorial for mix- 
ing with wool and cotton, as silk is now so extensively 
employed. For sewing thread, twist, trimmings, laces, 
curtains and the like, its particular qualities seem to 
render it speciiiily applicable. 

P^om the pineapple of the Philippines a famous cloth. 
is manufactured, much esteemed for its tine hair-Iike 
fibres, but this is considered as perhaps belongings to a 
different species. Reference has also been made to a 
plantation estaltlished years ago at Singapore by a Chin- 
aman, who there prepared pineapple fibre for export to 
his native coun ry to be used ''in the manufacture of 
linen." 



204 

COCOANUT PALM. 

(Cocos Nucifera.) 

This is a quick growing and attractive tree. It is very 
tender, suffering from the slightest frost. Where the tree 
is not killed outright by the frost a low temperature will 
cause the milk to sour in the nuts, thereby ruining the 
growing crop. The real home of the cocoanut in Florida 
will be found mainly south of a line drawn from the south 
end of Lake Worth on the East Coast, to or near to the 
mouth of the C^a^oosahatchee of the West Coast. Souih 
of this line thousands of cocoanuts have been planted and 
many of them are now producing fruit. The oldest plan- 
tations on the main land of Florida are at two points on 
Lake Worth and one point on Biscayne Bay, near the site 
of old Fort Dallas. 

The great freeze of 1895 destroyed hundred;! of {*ocoa 
nut trees on both coasts, and they were severely injured 
even as far soulh as Miami. Since then the groves have 
been rehabilitated, and they are fast cominig into bearing 
agaij?., and in a few years the trees will again be num- 
bered by the hundreds of thousands, as formerly. The 
cocoanut tree is a prolific and constant bearer ^ind it is 
said mature trees will yield a nut for every other day n 
the year. When once a plantation is well established it 
is a very profit;il)le investment. 

Kecently the Agricultural Depaitment at Washington 
has introduced from the Philippine Islands several named 
varieties of the cocoanut (the first, we think, that have 
been brought to this country). From the external ap- 
pearance of these nnts one would judge them very distinct 
from each other, and decidedly unlike those growing here. 

It is already evident that the cocoanut tree will need 
care, and that the profits of the groves w'll depend very 
much upon the culture given them. It may perhaps be as- 
sumed that each mature tree, well cared for. will yield- 
twenty nuts per month. Some are inclined to place the 
yield as high as one nut per day, but this is only excep- 
tional. 

Every one is familiar with the cocoaniif tiv'^s as pic- 
tured in works of tropical travel, with theii' hill nnd of- 



20S 

ten leaning, branchless trunks, and ^theu* peculiar ^ind 
uniform heads; but this is all very muca unlike what is 
to be seen in our young groves only five or six years old. 
There is a luxuriance and a grandeur about these young 
trees, with their long and nodding fronds bendin;^ to the 
ground, and rusvling in the breeze, and patlering like 
rain upon the r^of in the wind, and piping in mad refrain 
to the storm that must be seen and heard to be under- 
stood. 

THE GUAVA.' 

It is now only about forty-two yeai"?! c«iiue llie common 
(or tropical) guava (psidium guayava) was first intro- 
duced into Florida. Since that time this fruit has been 
carried into every ])ortiou of the State adapted to its cul- 
ture. Its peculiar habit of sprouting from the root when 
killed down bv the frost has encouraged its culture con- 
Siiderably north of its natural limits. Xoth'Ug could bet- 
ter attest the real value of this fruit than its rapid intro- 
duction and universal diffusion. It is to us what the 
peach is to Georgia. Our people have manv laudatory 
things to say of the guava, but it is probable that we have 
so far failed to take full measure of its value. To those 
accustomed to the use of the guava as hei-e grown there 
is scarcely a p'arc in the kitchen filled by any fruit that 
the guava will not fill as well. There can be no more 
beautiful or appetizing jelly than is made from this fruit. 
To many of us the strawberry shortcake is one of the 
brightest fruit memories of childhood, but the good house- 
wife has found a rival for even that in 'he gitava. 

The dried or evaporated guava is yet scarcely known, 
and yet from the best of testimony it seems 'ikely that 
this process is destined to add very much to the commer- 
cial value of the fruit. By this means the entire fruit can 
be profitably used. The pulp or seedy portion with the 
peel can be manufactured into jelly, while the (leshy por- 
tion of the fruit c;jn be evaporated, and when so lu'epared 
will only need to be known to be in demand everywhere. 

The guava, a tree in its size and shape and m:inner of 
growth not unlike the peach tree, does about as well in 
the southern counties of Florida as it can anywhere. 
Prom its fruit is made the guava jelly of commerce, so 



ao6 

widely and so favoifebly known over the world. The taste 
oi the fruit, like the taste for most tropical fruits, .s an 
Hcquired one, but when acquired is fully endorsed Some 
persons like the fruit upon first tasting it, but the major- 
ity require frequent tasting before the flavor becomes de- 
cidedly agreeable. The full crop ripens in August and 
[September, but the trees have blossoms and fruit all the 
year, and all the year the fruit is ripen- nj^. They grow 
with less attention than the peach, and sometimes bear 
the secono year fioni the seed. The fruit is ordinarily 
about tho size of The peach, and fully as varico in ?iize and 
quality. So far experience has deraons<r;iled no other 
means of utilizing thii^ fruit for market than by canning, 
or manufacturing into jelly and mai'malado. Tn the two 
lattei' forms vas! quantities are put np evoiy year by 
persons owning groves in the lower east ainl \v<^'st <oast 
counties of the State, notably Southern P.revard, l>ade, 
Hillsborough, IManatee, DeSoto and I^ee. The guava is 
also grown piofiiably in the southern 1nte?'i(.r counties. 

There are two very distinct species of i\ui guava groAvn 
here. The flirsi on the southernmost foast icgion form 
^ large spreading tree, with coarse, wrinkled leaves, and 
fruit varying greatly in size and quality, and marked by 
a fragrance peculiar to itself. This is the guava of South 
Florida, alwavt^i Kuffering from even a ^ligh!: frost. 

The second species is the Cattley or Chmese guava. a 
email shrub with thick leathery leaves, half hardy j»nd a 
small fruit igi*eatly variable in size and quality and want- 
ing the peculiar fragrance of its larger and tropical 
neighbor. The first named is the most valuable, and the 
only edible variefy. 

SAPODILL.^. 

( A rchra s l^apota. ) 

This fruit ?s ptown somewhat extensively along the 
coast of South Fl'^rida and upon the kevs. TtM profitable 
culture Avill dowbr-ess be confined to about the same lim- 
its with the cocofinut. The tree grows at firsr (juiti^ slow- 
ly, but when once established it grows mor-' rnpiillv nn«i 
soon makes a con'Val tree about t^^'ontv f'^et in h(M'<7ht. 
The leaves are tliick, smootli ant.l vorv c<opsv, with a 



307 

marked tendency to form dense terminal clastora. The 
flowers are small. The fruit is formed on terminal shoots 
frequently in clusters of four and five. The fruit varies 
much in size and often somewhat in quality. Externally 
it resembles an English russet apple, whiie the tlosh is 
not unlike the most delicate of sweet pears with a sii'ght 
granulation surrounding a few glossy seeds- from one to 
five. This fruit picked in a green state is frequently 
«ent from the Pahamas to Jacksonville, and perhaps to 
■ome other pohits on the Atlantic roast; bat !n lliat loii- 
dition it is very unlike the sapodilla as ga Uered in a ma- 
ture state from our own trees. Like th-:* h.niana, ihe co- 
coanut and the guava, the sapodilla is a continuous bear- 
er, though it ih not equally productive throughout the 
year. 

The market for this fruit is limited, flrsr. bwause the 
area where it chu be produced with profit i« small, and 
second, because its shippinig qualities are poor unless 
gathered quite gi><»en, under which circuiristance:^ it lacks 
the very qualitif s which fascinate the ta«<res. 

THE MANGO. 

(Man^ifora Tndica.) 

This fruit is a native of India, and doubtless its ori- 
gin. It has been highly esteemed by all who luive become 
familiar with it. from ancient times to the present day. ft 
is a fruit of peculiar flavor, apparently combining the 
flavors of many fruits in one. blending them to a. oeT-fet* 
tion not known to any other fruit. Not onlv is it a de- 
licious fruit, but 'n many countrips. speciaTy of the East, 
it is a staple article of food for man and l)ea8t. "Be- 
sides being .^aten raw, it is made into jellies and pre- 
serves, wines and even starch and glucose ai'e uinniifa<^- 
tnred from it. Horses, cattle. pipTj. goat? and even 
chickens eat ih" fruit readily and thriv" upon ;i ." '^Ve 
have in this statement an ample gnarant'''\ ngsn'rist ;iny 
possible waste of fruit; nnd a sirong snicrgesticni that there 
could scarcely be a more protltable planTtition even fur 
home consumpt^ion than the mango grove. This fruit has 
been growing frir many years at St. Lucio. on Indian 
River, as also on the West Coast. The tree> have occa- 



208 

«ionally been killed back by frost, but have .-ontinued to 
produce fruit until now. The experience with these trees 
indicates that they are near the northern limit .if inango 
culture on the East Coast. A very general interest in the 
mango was awakened at a later day on th3 West (Jloast by 
the early and successful fruiting of several plantations, 
but unfortunately these were so far north that the ''big 
freeze" of 1895 ruined their prospects. The marked suc- 
cess of this first planting up to the time of the freeze iias 
stimulated extensive replanting with the hope of better 
fortune in the future. The experience given by planters 
upon the West Coast is ample testimony that there can be 
no fruit tree that will make so liberal returns for the time 
and money invented as the mango. We find in this the 
reason why they ore ready to brave even (he menace of 
another frost. There is a vei*;v' strong argument in these 
facts that a])peals especially to those who are located 
south of the danger line, for the mango will grow, wher- 
ever the cocoanui and sapodilla do. 

This fruit is not only valuable at home, but ii can be 
sent to all our Northern markets and will bi'ing I'emunera- 
tive returns. No one has to learn to like the mango, and 
the demand will be limited only by the supply. 

The mango ultimately becomes a very large tree with a 
round spreading head, sometimes sixty feet in diameter. 
The leaves are lanceolate, smooth and leathery, from six 
to twelve inches long. The young growth is of a deep 
wine color, and the leaves retain their dark shade, until 
nearly full grown, thus covering the tree several times a 
year with a mas? of wine colored plumes. The fruit 
forms at the ends of the slender limbs often '<n such num- 
bers as to bend the branches to the ground. The wood is 
strong and elastic. The tree has, as far as known, no in- 
sect enemies. TLe fruit begins to appear frpquently 
when the trees are only four or five years jpld from the 
seed, and are generally remarkable for ths vast quantity 
of fruit produced. The trees grow more rapidly, produce 
fruit younger and more abundantly upon the high and 
light sandy. soils vnth a yellow sub-soil than upon shell, 
rocky or clayey soils. Hence there is upon both the east 
and west coast, &outh of the danger line, a short and not 



909 

very wide belt of land peculiarly adapted to the culture 
of the mango. 

The mango is propagated in this country so far mainly 
from seed. This is a profitable fruit to grow, its reputa- 
tion is world-wide, and it is always in demand in auy mar- 
ket in which it appears. 

AVOCADO PEAR, OR ALLIGATOR PEAR. 

This tree is a tropical evergreen, with large, glossy, 
somewhat curled and leathery leaves, often very much 
crowded upon the terminal shoots. It makes a tall and 
erect tree, like tbe hickory of the North, with i^omewhat 
irregular brancbos, and hence becomes a marked object, 
either upon the lawn or in the grove. It frequently fruits 
at five years old from the seed, and soon produces large 
regular crops. This tree will endure about the same 
temperature as the mango. The culture of the iWocado 
is gradually extending along the coast belt on both sides 
of the State. Many young trees are planted. There are 
many trees fruiting upon the keys, and a few as far 
north as Lake Worth. The fruit yet finds a ready home 
market, as it alwajs is in demand where known. It ships 
well. It is now sent from the West India Islands to 
New York, where it sells at high prices. The fruit is 
generally pear shaped, brown or purple when fully ripe 
and frequently of two pounds weight. The tree, ladened 
with its fruit crowding seemingly into its dense masses of 
leaves, is an attractive object. The pulp is of a greenisK 
yellow color, resembling in consistency, and in taste per- 
haps as much as anything, the yolk of a hard boiled eg^. 
The fruit is eaten with salt and pepper, sometimes with 
the addition of butter or oil. It is also made into a salad 
which is becoming justly very popular. 

Each fruit contains one large and very perishable seed. 
This can be safely transported only in dry sand or muck. 

The vast amount of healthy and nourishiiii^ food furn- 
ished by this tree from June to November should encour- 
age its planting wherever it can be safely grown, if only 
for home use, but the planter may be sure that any sur- 
plus fruit will always find a ready market. 

14 H. F. 



210 

TAMARIND. 

{Tamarindus Indica.) 

This tree is worthy of more attention than bui bither- 
lo been giren it. It is strictly tropical and should be 
planted only where there is little danger of froat. As an 
ornamental tree it is extensively planted in all tropical 
countries. Its delicate acacia-like leaves, closiing at night 
together with the density of its shade bring it out in 
agreeable and slriking contrast with other tropical 
plants and trees. There can scarcely be a more beautiful 
tree than the tamarind. From past experience we may 
plant it anywhere in South Florida where the mango and 
eapodilla do not suffer from the froet. But this tree is of 
still greater interest because it yields an abundance of 
valuable and agreeable fruit. This grows in large, thick 
pods containing a large quantity of delicate acid, used as 
the basis of an acid drink much esteemed in fevers. These 
pods grow in large clusters and seemingly crowd the 
leaves from the branches. If carefully picked they can be 
kept for two or three months in their natural state, and 
there seems to be no reason why they cannot be supplied 
thus to Northern customers. And there <'ertainly is no 
good reason why thit most delicate, healthfni and agreea- 
ble fruit-acid should not be in more general demand. 

SUGAR APPLE. 

(Anona Squamosa.) 

Among the Anesas are found some very delicate and 
valuable fruits. These trees varTincr p-reatly in (hnractcr 
«eem to be natives of all tropical regions; and it is not 
improbable that we may yet secure some valuable? addi- 
tions to the Anona fruit list. 

The sugar apple Is so far the best known and most 
popular of all Iho Anonas. It is quite oxtenRivolr frown 
upon the keys and along the east and west con<«fs of 
Florida, in many places so far north as to be frequently 
killf-d bnck by the frost. It is little more than a shrub, 
seldom growing higher than flfleen fer>t, nnd froinontly 
producing fruir iu abundancce whon only four or ih-^ f(»et 



211 

high. It can be so pruned as to be easily protected from; 
slight cold, and hence can be grown for home use much 
farther north Ihan any other Anona. The tree is dor- 
mant for a short time in the winter months, but with ue 
ie not quite deciduous. Though found everywhere in 
southernmost Florida it has been grown so far only for 
home use, excepting upon the keys. The fruit is very 
delicate and will require as careful and prompt handlinig' 
as strawberries. The fruit resembles a shortened pine 
cone three or f(»ur inches in diameter, with a yellowish 
green exterior and has a very sweet cream -white pulp, 
which is best eaten with a spoon. Most people soon learn 
to relish it very much, and are inclined to give it a very 
high place as a dessert fruit. 

The "sugar apple," in local nomenclature, ihc Span- 
iards put at or near the head of the fruit list for its ex- 
cellency. In ilq flavor it is one of the most c*3on(;ent rated 
Bweets known among fruits, but the first taste has a 
toiack of something repulsive, soon lost in a few repeti- 
tions, and then the acquired taste is very agreeable. It 
grows upon a e^hrub but little, if any, larger than the 
pomegrante, and in size and shape is somewhat like the 
pine cone. It decays too soon after ripening for trans- 
IK)rtation, and as yet has established a use only at home. 
It thrivei as far north as Tampa. 






THE CHEBIMOYA, OR JAMAICA APPLE. 

I 

{A. CherimoUa.) 

Of this variety there are only a few trees yet fruiting 
as far north as Lake Y/orth, though recently many young 
ones have been planted. Two causes have served to 
check the planting of the cherimoya — one the difficulty of 
first of obtaiuiut; seeds, and the other the certain T)ro«- 
pect, as though until very recently that this and all the 
anonas must be, because of their delicate nature, consura' 
ed at home. The flesh of this fruit is as fragile and ten- 
der when fully ripe as a strawberry, and yet is frequently 
8ix inches in diameter. Hence it requires ^he most care- 
ful treatment. Rome way may be devised to T>lace this 
delicious fruit in the hands of our friends at the N<»rth, 



212 

but any way it will always be counted among the most 
cherished of our home fruits. 

The tree requires a rich dry soil. It makes a symmetri- 
cal tree when \ouug. The leaves are a light greeu, glossy 
and a little downy, larger, thicker and more pointed than 
the leaves of the sugar apple. The tree grows larger and 
more upright than the sugar appU. The fruit has the pe- 
culiar markings of the anonas, but much smoother exter- 
nally than either the others. The fruit grows from the 
limbs in a manner peculiar to itself, with an immense 
woody stem, frequently eighteen inches long, that strongly 
suggest a squash or melon stead ^f an apple. 

There are a number of other fruits of the same family 
of equal merit and value, but we can only give space to 
name them. They are the sour sop, cashew nut, the 
carica (midon paw-paw) cerimen, maumee apple, egg fruit 
and others, all of which will grow in the region named. 



PEACHES. 

It has been so short a time since the culture of the peacK 
in Florida has attained to any importance in a commer- 
cial way that it is only those who have followed ^ the 
course of pomological events quite closely during the past 
few years in this State who can fully appreciate the im- 
portance that this branch of horticulture is attaining to, 
and the prominent position that the peach has assumed 
among the fruit<3 that can be profitably grown in Florida. 

We of the extreme South have to deal with a radically, 
different climate from that which prevails further North, 
and many of us have had to be time and time again re- 
minded, by costly experience, that the varieties that con- 
stitute the bulk of more northern orchards cannot be 
profitably taken as the basis of an orchard in Florida. It 
is not strange, therefore, that, up to the comparatively re- 
cent date at which varieties better suited to the (rlimate 
have been introduced, the feeling in relation to peach cul- 
ture in Florida, for commercial purposes, was largely 
either one of distrust, or disgust; distrust on the part of 
those who had witnessed repeated failures with the 



215 

Northern varieiies that had been introduced, and disgnst 
on the part of those who had introduced theui. But ihat 
time has passed, for with the improved varieties adapted 
to all sections of the State, peach growing has assumed a 
commercial imporlance that stands second in value, only 
to a few of the leading fruits. In the southern portion 
of the State, the Chinese varieties seem to do best, and in 
the northern FPCtion the Persian and Spanish type seem 
best suited, altlioujih there are exceptions to this rule; 
perhaps the mo8t successful varieties are those obtained 
from crossing of the several types mentioned. We have 
not the space to devote to a detailed discussion of varieties 
and their merits, but regardless of their origin, peaches of 
finest quality are now and have for years been grown in 
all portions of the State. In recent years the crop has 
reached considerable proportions from 150,000 to 200,000 
bushels being marketed annually at profitable prices. The 
fruit that brings profit to the grower are the varieties 
that ripen from April to July, as they practically have no 
competition in the markets till the Georgia crop begins to 
come in. about the first of July. The peach attains its 
highest perfection in thii country when properly cared 
for. and the tn^e posseses more vigor, bears earlier, and 
lasts longer thrai at the North. Few brauohos of horti- 
culture offer greater inducements for a profitable indus 
try than peach growing in Florida, under proper manage- 
ment. 



FIGS. 



Of all the fruits cultivated in the South, the Pig re- 
quires the least care, and is one of the nyost productive 
and useful. It is propagated readily from cuttings, 
which usually bear the second year. During the Summer 
months the Fig may he found upon the breakfast tables 
of all lovers of fine fruit. When ripe, it is mild, rich and 
luscious, without being cloying even to those of the most 
delicate appetite. Being vei^y perishable, it is valuable 
only for the home market. The dampness of the climate 
does not admit of its being put up like the figs of com- 



214 

merce. This difficulty may be overcome by artificial 
means, and would make the Fig an article of commercial 
value to the State. A moist and fertile soil is best suited 
to the Fig; but it grows readily in almost any location. 
Every one in Florida who owns a foot of land may literal- 
ly "sit under his own vine and fig tree." 



POMEGx^ANATES. 

The Pomegranate is common in Florida. There are the 
sweet and sour varieties. The bush is a pretty ornamen- 
tal shrub, and with its beautiful blossoms and pendant 
fruit, iis decidedly ornamental. The rind is very bitter, 
and has been used as a substitute for Peruvian Bark; 
but the juice is contained in little sacks surrounding the 
eeeds, is a pleasant acid, and is quite agreeable. 



The Japan Plum or Loquat, as well as the Japanese Per- 
simmon, flourish throughout the State ; both are excellent 
fruit, with growino- popularity, and promise to be profit- 
able products for market beyond the State. The persim- 
mon is as large as an apple, and in some of its varieties 
very much the same shape. Some specimens of the fruit 
are seedless. The flavor is rich and pleasant. 

Plums of man}' varieties are grown throughout the 
State, and many are iudigenous to the country. The na- 
tive and imported varieties do well alike, rarely are af- 
fected with serious diseases. They are among the first 
fruit to ripen and are quite profitable in a limited way. 

Quinces — Of the Japanese varieties do well, and bear 
regularly fruits of large size, many of which weigh two to 
three pounds each ; they are exquisitely fragrant, and arc 
used to make preserves and jelly, the latter principally. 
The northern varieties do not succeed well, and are easily 
cultivated. 

Cherries — Do not succeed in Florida, or at least not up 
to this time, though under new methods there is no tell- 
ing what can be done with it, as the wild variety growi 
luxuriouslv, and is a native to the soil. 



215 

The Olive^ — Were wrown on a considerable scale at one 
time in the counties of Jefferson, Leon and Gadsden, prior 
to tlie civil war, but since that time, with the demoralized 
condition of labor which prevailed all ttiiough the conn- 
try for a number of years after that period, the planta- 
tions were deserted by the owners, with tlie consequence 
that trees of the character of the olive, were soon de- 
stroyed 0? permitted to die out for lack of proper care ' 
and attention ; thei-e were, however, many bearing trees in 
the counties named, and they were practically just be- 
ginning to he looked npon as a successful fruit, when 
the unfortunate troubles brought about their final ruin. 
Xo trees are known to be in existence now, out of the 
hundreds that once thrived here, and this reference is 
only made to the subject, to show what has been done, 
and what might be done again, should any person feel 
disposed to give the industry a trial. 

Apples have been grown with some success, in a few of 
the northern and western border counties, but the in- 
dustry has never received the practical r. fteiUion neces- 
sary to make a perfect success of it. The catalogue of 
the State Nurserymen give a number of varieties that 
are said to succeed, and probably will with the right sort 
of care, fertilizing, etc. 



PEARS. 

Pears of very many varieties, but especially the Dwarfs, 
have been for many years favorite incumbents of the 
orchards in the northern and middle portions of the State, 
and are found to succeed well. Standards haA^e been ex- 
tensively planted of late years. Among these the Bart- 
lett has so far proven the most satisfactory. The intro- 
duction of the celebrated LeConte variety, gave an im- 
petus to the production of this fimit that amounted to a 
boom, and promised to rival in extent the orange indus- 
tr}'. The LeConte is a most vigorous grower, comes into 
bearing the fourth year from the cutting, attains a growth 
of twenty-five or thirty feet, and is the most prolific and 
sure bearer of any character of fruit tree experimented 



21G 



with w Flovifla. The fruit is not, perhaps, as excellent in 
quality as some of the more choice varieties, but is never- 
thele«? a very edible and readily marketable fruit. The 
rapidity of it's growth, the small amount of capital, labor 
and time required to secure bearing orchards of any ex- 
tent, its wonderful proliflcness, excellent shipping prop- 
erties and earliness of ripening, made the production of 
this pear one of the most popular investments in Florida. 
A few years of bearing, however, and the blight which 
afftjts the pear so seriously in other states, made its ap- 
pearance in the orchards in Florida, and except where the 
grower vigorously and systematically used the remedies 
universally known and used, the groves were almost 
ruined, and many thousand trees were, after a few years 
of expensive trouble, abandoned to fate, or were cut down 
and turned into firewood. There are still many orchards 
left, and about every other year pay their owners fairly 
well, as the fruit being quite early, brings good prices in 
the large Northern markets. 



ALMONDS, APRICOTS AND NECTARINES. 

All of these fruits dO' well in Florida wherever tried; 
little attention, however, is ])aid to their cultivation with- 
out any other reason perhaps than sheer lack of interest. 
They grow as well and as easily as the peach, and belong 
to the same family, and the same care and attention 
given to them as to the peach will produce quite as suc- 
cessful results. 

THE PECAN. 

The i>ecan is one of the best of our native nuts ; in fact, 
as a dessert nut, we think it heads the list. Large (juanti- 
ties are grown in the h'outhern States every year, but the 
•crop is by no means as large as can be grown profitably. 
In Northern Florida #oday there are hundreds of acres of 
land on which the pecan can be grown successfully, and 
it is one of the grove crops which should receive more at- 
tention than is now bestowed u}>on it. True, there are 
many trees and groves scattered throughout the Northern 
and Western parts of the State, but the industry has by 
n( nietirs reached the limit of profitable production. 



217 



On the other hand, the pecan should not be boomed io 
the exclusion of other crops, neither is it advised that it 
be planted throughout the whole State; l)ut, thei-e is a 
vast area in which it could be igrown to advantage. In 
the south, other horitcultural crops can be and are grown ; 
these should be continued. But in northern and western 
Florida, the pecan is as nearly reliable as any orchard 
tree generally is, and, considered from the standpoint of 
certain remuneration, it should be planted more exten- 
sively than at present. 

When we consider the fact that more than two and a 
half million dollars' worth of nuts were imported into our 
country last year, it can readily be seen that there is still 
a large demand which may, to a very considerable extent, 
be met by a home product. Moreover, this demand is 
steadily increasing, and of nuts grown throughout our 
country today, whether native or introduced, none is more 
worthy of careful cultivation than the pecan. 

It is only of late years that it has received the attention, 
as a cultivated tree, that it so well deserves, and at pres- 
ent most of the pecan nuts come from either Texas or 
Louisiana, usuall}' the product of the native forest trees. 
As compared with other nuts, it ranks high in food value, 
and the kernel is particularly sweet and palatable. The 
following portion of a table, copied from Bui. No. 54 of 
the Maine Ag. Exp. Sta., by Chas. D. Woods and L. H. 
Merrill, may be of interest : 



Pecans, kernels 

Walnuts, kernels .... 
Filberts, kernels . . 
Cocoanuts. shredded 
A'monds, kernels. . . . 
Shelled Peanuts 



o 



Per 
Cent 
HX> 
100 
100 



100 
100.0 



Edible Portion 



Per 
Cent. 
2.9 
2.8 
3 7 
3 5 
4.8 
1.6 



Per 
Cent 

10.31 

16 

15 6 
6 3 

21.0 

30.5 



Per 
Cent. 
70.8 
64.4 
65 3 
57.3 
54 
49.2 



Per 

Cent. 
14,3 
14 8 
13.0 
31 6 
17.3 
18.2 



■3^ 



fo 



Per Calo- 
Cent! riei 



1.7 
1.3. 
2 4 
1.3 
2 



3445 
3305 
3290 
3125 
3030 
2955 



♦Calculated from analysis. 



218 

RANGE AND SOILS. 

The southern limit in successful culture in the State 
has been rather difficult to determine, as a positive state- 
ment could only be made after actually growing and fruit- 
ing the tree in Southern localities. Yet it has been ascer- 
tained that it extends well into the region within which 
orange culture may be successfully carried on under ouf 
present conditions. 

The statement is generally made that the pecan will 
succeed wherever the larger species of hickory are found 
in the State, and this is doubtless true, as the pecan be- 
longs to the same family of trees (JuglandacecB) and to 
the same genus [Carga) as the hickory. Unfortunately, 
as yet a systemalf, botanical survey of Florida has ssot 
been made, and we are not aware of the exact range of the 
different varieties of hickory, but hickory as it is common- 
ly met with, is found in every poirtion of Florida, from 
Pease river in the south, round to the Perdido river in the 
west. 

The peculiar conditions of soil and moisture surround- 
ing the i)ecan in its native home might be regarded as an 
indication that it could not be grown except on deep, rich 
soil, in proximity to rivers, ponds or streams. Such, how 
ever, would be a wrong inference, for it succeeds admira- 
bly and bears good crops on a wide range of soils. Hence, 
we find it today in localities far removed from the regions 
to which it is indigenous, and thriving under conditions 
differing greatly from those obtaining in its native home. 
In Florida trees may be found growing on soils ranging 
from the black hammock to the less fertile high-pine lands. 
On hammock soils, however, the trees are often inclined 
to develop wood at the expense of fruit, while on less, 
fertile soils the trees make less wood and bear more frait 
proportionately. Moisture in sufficient quantity must 
be present, but it will not do to plant the pecan on land 
that is continually wet and soggy. The presence of a 
hard, impenetrable subsoil doubtless has a great influ- 
ence upon the welfare of the tree, and it would be better 
to select other ground, or, when thiis is impossible, to blast 
out the hardpan. 

. i 



BOTANICAL. 

The rich allutial bottoms of the Mississippi and certain 
of its tributaries is the native home of this tree in the 
United States. The area as given in "Nut Culture in the 
United States," * embraces "an obliquely set area, having 
neafl* its four extremities the cities of Davenport, Iowa, 
Chattanooga, Tenn., Laredo, Tex., and the region of the 
headwaters of the Colorado River in Texas." In cultiva- 
tion, however, it is found far from this region, and haa 
been and is receiving considerable attention in Alabama, 
Georgia, Florida and other states not included in its na- 
tive range. 

The pecan belongs to the family Juglandaceoe (walnut 
family), and is known botanically as Garya oUvoeformis, 
Nutt., and Hicoria pecan (Marsh), Britton. It is closely 
related to the butternut, walnut and the different varie- 
ties of hickories. 

It is a laiTge, stately tree, 75 to 170 feet in height, with 
wide, spreading branches and symmetrical top. The bark 
is rough, broken, and grayish black in color. The bark 
of the young twigs is quite smooth, and they, during their 
early life, together with the leaves and flowers of the tree, 
are covered with a liberal coating of rather rust-colored 
hairs. The leaves are oval, compound, composed of from 
seven to fifteen falcate, oblong-lanceolate, sharp-pointed 
serrate leaflets, green and quite bright above, lighter 
colored below, and when mature, nearly or quite smooth. 
The flowers are of two kinds — pistillate |nd staminate. 
The former are produced upon the young shootis, while 
the latter come from buds upon twigs one year old. 

VARIETIES. 

A great deal of stress has been laid upon a thin shell 
as a mark of virtue in a pecan nut; in fact, this point 
seems to have often received attention at the expense of 
other and more important ones. True, a thin shell is to 



U. S. Dept. Ag., Div. Pomology, 1896. 



22Q 

he desired, both because it is more easily cracked and be- 
cauise a greater proportion of meat can be secured from 
a pound of nuts, but it should not be given undue promi- 
nence. 

The following are the points which it seems desirable 
to consider in determining the value of a pecan : Quality 
and flavor, plumpness of kernel, ease with which the ker- 
nel separates, size, and the thickness of the shell. The 
ease of separation depends largely upon the convolutions 
in the kernel. For market the lar,ge and medium sized 
nuts are perhaps more desirable, while the smaller ones 
are well adapted for the home table. It should be borne 
in mind, however, that the medium and small sized nuts 
are usually somewhat better in quality and finer flav- 
ored. 

The following varieties are grown either in Florida or 
Georgia. Some of them, such as Stuart, Van Deman, 
Centennial and Frotchers are what may be termed stan- 
dard varieties, while the remainder are for the most part 
new introductions. Some of these are particularly com- 
mendable, and are well worthy of a place among the list 
of desirable varieties. A few of the varieties have already 
been described in "The American Fruit Culturist," by 
Thomas, and in the excellent monograph entitled "Nut 
Culture in the United States," Division of Pomology, U. S. 
Department of Agriculture, 189G. 

At present the orchards set in regular form, number 
over 17.000 trees, bearing and non-bearing, and the pro- 
ducts or crop §^r the past year was about 5,000 bushels. 
The great bulk of the nuts marketed are of the improved 
Tarieties, with thin shells, and sell readily at five and six 
dollars per bushel. The trees bear from a few handfuls 
at the beginning up to ten and fifteen bushels to each 
tree, depending upon age and size. Large trees of mature 
age are known to bear, in* the high lands of North and 
Middle Florida, as many as eight and ten barrels each 
in one season. 



WALNUTS. 

The common black walnut so universally known and 
valued so much for both its wood as well as fruit, t^irows 
well in the northern and western part of the State, and is 



221 

found growing wild in the high hammocks or in rich bot- 
toms along the f>t reams. 

Japanese Walnut — An imported variety is being exten- 
sively grown for the nnts wliich it produces, in large 
clusters; the meat of the nut is of fine flavor, and the shell 
being much thinner than the n.\tive black walnut it is 
easier to get out the ehell. It is smaller than the native 
nut, of fine quality and an early and prolific bearer. 



GRAPES. 

Grapes of many varieties abound in Florida, in fact are 
indigenous to the soil. They are found in the rich ham- 
mock lands in great profusion and luxurience, but never 
in the pine woods. Formerl}' not much attention was 
given to grape growing, except that a few v/ell known 
varieties, such as the Concord, Ives, Catawba, etc.; but in 
recent years, considerable interest has been manifested, 
stimulated principally by the success of a number of per- 
sons who believed that the country was adapted to grape 
growing for wine making purposes. These successes 
have demonstrated that in various sections of Florida 
there are soils perfectly adapted to wine grape growing. 
Old residents believed and insisted that only grapes of 
the Scuppernong family could be successfully grown here, 
that bunch grapes would not succeed ; but the success of 
those who planted vineyards, is proof positive that suc- 
cess in a high degree is attainable. We do not pretend 
to claim that either our soil or climate is so well adapted 
to such a large variety of grapes as California; but even 
considering- that onr soil requres so much more fertiliz- 
ing than the average California soil adapted to grape cul- 
ture, there is m.)ro profit to our growers with the small 
number of varieties that we do grow, than to those of Cal- 
ifornia. The varieties that seem to be best suited to our 
climate and soil are Concord, Ives, Delawares, Niagara, 
Cynthiana, Norton, and Elvira, and perhaps a few more 
that we cannot just now call to mind. The quality of 
grapes marketed the past year was in round numbers 
800,000 pounds, liaving a value of fraction over |32,000. 



223 

And the wine produced in gallon^ was practically 45,000. 
having a commercial value of a little over .f40,000. 

The entire family of Scuppernong grapes are remarka- 
bly thrifty and productive, and some of the varieties are 
highly esteemed as both table and wine grapes. They im- 
part to the wine that delightful flavor and aroma peculiar 
alone to the Muscadine type of grapes. In this industry, 
there is a wide field for a profitable business in Florida. 



SMALL F WITS, 

• 

Of this character of fruits the Blackberry and the 
Whortleberry are indigenous to this country; both grow 
in great abundance, but the former grows in perfect 
luxurience in every section of the State, and especially in 
those sections where agriculture is the predominant occu- 
pation. For a few weeks it literally becomes a staple 
article of daily food with the vast majority of negro labor- 
ers. Nor is it discarded from the table of the average 
citizen by any means, but is looked upon as one of the 
most delightful as well as healthful fruits that nature 
Supplies. They are also extensively used in the prepara- 
tion of preserves, jellies, jams, and the universal pie. It 
also makes a delicious wine, that is not only delightful as 
a beverage, but is much prized for its well known medici- 
nal properties. 

STRAWBERRIES. 

Of all the small fruits the Strawberry is perhapi the 
most universally sought and liked by the people of all 
climes. It is one of the most important to fruit growera 
as a money producer. The Strawberry grows to great 
perfection in all parts of Florida. The fruit comes into 
market early when there its no other fruit to compete 
with it, and of course obtain a monopoly in ihe markets 
for weeks, both at home and in the North. The produc- 
tion and shipment of Strawberries to Northern markets 
hna increased to imu'cnse woyiortioTis in the past few 
years, and continues to increase rapidly each year. The 
business has grown to such proportions that refrigerator 



229 

care were necessary to preserve fruit while on the road, 
80 that at the present time, all except perhaps that part 
of the crop shipped in January and Febi-uary are trans- 
ported in refrigerator cars. Like everything else, Straw- 
berry growing for profit to be successful must be done in 
a thorough and intelligent manner. It requires work, 
good judgment and a spirit of liberality in the methods 
of fertilizing and cultivation. Forty dollars worth oi 
fertilizer applied per acre may yield |300 worth of ber- 
ries; fSO worth is likely to yield, under correspondingly 
good management, |500 or |600 per acre. 

To the Northern immigrant with a good practical 
knowledge of the general principles of tillage, industry 
and perseverance, and sufficient to support him nine 
months or a year, strawberry growing presents solid at- 
tractions. Of course, the fancy prices obtained for the 
first few shipments do not prevail all of the season, and 
the writer is unable to see any probabilty that the indus- 
try will be wholly overdone to the reoiotest yeaiis. The 
Strawberry is the first fresh fruit of the year, and the 
demand for it is widely spreading in the markets of the 
North. With a good grower the crop is as certain as 
corn in Ohio, even more certain. Crickets, cutworms, 
rust, white bud, frost ( onspire to curtail the yield of the 
weak and ill used plants, but the early, strong, well- 
nourished ones, with timely, judiciou* help from the 
grower, resist each of these enemies in turn and yield 
an average crop, or at least an average return, in the 
worst years that have ever overtaken the industry. 

Like other crops, it has its enemies, but take the indus- 
try as a whole, it is quite as sucoes»ful as other crops, 
and fully as remunerative as the most of them. The 
acrf^ajro cultivated to thini crop the pa-st year was in round 
numbers 1,0(10; the yield was over 2.350.000 quarts, and 
having a coniniPic'a! valuation of over f 200,000. 

Currants, Gooseberries, and Raspberries, have not been 
cultivated to any extent. Feeble sporadic attempts at 
one or the other at tin es have been made, and in a few in- 
stancies the Cuthbert variety of Raspberries have suc- 
ceeded fairly well, but no well directed, intelligent and 
determined effort has hopn niai'e as far as the writer 
kron-p. It is nnlte Drobable that success would be at- 
tained with yu'oper care and miiangement. 



224 
STOCK RAISING, 

Of the nearly 35,000,000 acres of lands surface in Flor- 
ida, about 4,500,000 acres are included in farms, improved 
and unimproved ; thus leaving owr 30,000,000 acres avail- 
able as grazing lands for cattle and sheep. It is not to 
be inferred from this that no cattle or sheep are raised 
in Florida, for in reality there were on the ranges last 
year, in round nuniliers, about 600,000 cattle; what we 
Avant to show is that there is abundant room for 3,000,000 
head in place of the comparative small nuuibcr noted 
above ; it is for the purpose of demonstrating to the thou- 
sands of people who are interested in stock raising out- 
side of Florida, that we make these statements to prove 
to them that it is not necessary to go to the bleak north- 
west, or the far southwest in order to make stock raising 
a successful, and highly profitable industry. Having the 
vast area above stated, unsurpassed in extent and suit- 
ability for the raising of live istock of every kind, it 
would seem unaccountable that this industry should so 
long remain in a comparatively chaotic or passive condi- 
tion; a reasonable solution of lh<^ trouble would seem 
to be two-fold, first, ignorance of the true situation, on 
the part of those jjeojtle in other states interested in 
euch matters, mainly because the real conditions have 
never been placed before them in a proper and attractive 
form; second, because of a certain sort of prejudice that 
exists in the minds of many persons to the efi:ect that the 
growing of stock cannot succeed in what they are pleased, 
though erroneously, to call a hot climate, scourged with 
insect pests of every kind fatal to animal life. In the 
first instance people cannot know the truth simply by 
intuition, and in the second, there is absolutely, not the 
slightest foundation for such belief. The truth is, the 
climate of Florida is an ideal one for stock raising; see 
the article on climate elsewhere, preceding this, as to 
why this climate is iso equable, and therefore peculiarly 
adapted to the propagation of animal life. In Southern 
Florida, south of nillsboiroT"!?!! county, in Manatee, in 
the great Myaka river prairie region, in southern Polk 
county and in DeSoto, Osceola, Brevard and Lee coun- 
ties, which include the Alifia, Kissimmee and Caloosa- 
hatchee river valleys, is found the greatest grazing region 



226 

running water will not be encountered; and as water is 
the most important factor in the make-up of a successful 
stock raising country we lay this special stress upon this 
feature ; we know of no other section of country that can 
«ay as much. Next in importance to the water supply 
are the grasses tor pasture purposes; these abonud in 
«very section of the State; and except in the far south- 
em section first mentioned, the native grasses are cut 
for winter forage. It is often said and as often believed 
that the native grasses ai*e lacking in nutrition, not be- 
ing near the equal of northern grasses, for either pastur- 
age or forage purposes; for proof to the contrary the 
reader is referred to an article on grasses, on a preceding 
page giving an analyses of grasses and their feeding value 
in which it is shown that more than half of the native 
grasses surpass in nutritious properties, and food value, 
the very best northern grasses. Then for winter feed, 
or finisliing up tho MTtiinals for tntirket. add the velvet 
bean, green or cured, and <?assava and sweet potatoes, 
and you will have a cheap food' that is unsurpassed in 
feeding value for any purpose. Compare feeding for three 
months of winter in Florida, as indicated, and the six or 
eight months north as the rigors of the climate require, 
and the truth is forced upon the most prejudiced mind. 
In addition to grasses that grow in winter oats, rye and 
barley are planted for young stock; all are cheap and 
•ure growing crops. 

The absence romnarativelv of r^'SPRse. surh a« m*'* 
known in the north m a matter that is not appreciated 
with us because we have so little of it; this happy con- 
dition is probably attributed to the pure air, and water 
that abound; but whatever it is, the fact remains that the 
live sto( k in this conntry nrp rnif^lv troubled with fatal 
diseases, epidemics being totally unknown. 

No insects that become dangerous to life or h^aUh of 
stock are found her^; in the rnrly ^^priT^rr. v^^ nlvfa'^f* nl- 
luded to. the horse-fly or bufTaU»-^v ip iM'ett^ b'?"' for ihv^a 
or four weeks, then he disnon^nr'' ; b^^t "''"'» pr^v^T' h'^^"^ ■'"hg 
precri headed fly that is so troubleporae in other Rtatr^a, 
north and west. 

favorite iirtproT'ed br'^^cTs nor^^h npd v'Pst: hnt fh^^t is "^t 
the fault of either the cliirat? or the grasses on which 



227 

they feed, but it comes from the parent stock which was 
mostly imported either fi*om Spain by way of the Wekx 
Indies, or driven- from some qt the Islands; and, as no 
attention was evpv known \o h'aVe l>HHn ))ai(l to flu' l>i'eed- 
ing, or improvement of live j*tock in those days, they were 
permitted to inbreed among themselves to the extent of 
great deterioration. ^Vs above stated these cattle are 
small but quite hardy, and when fat will clean at three 
to four years old fi*om five to six hundred pounds; the 
flesh is of good flavor and is much prized by the Cuban 
trade, to which market a large number are shipped every 
year, at average price of about |14.00 per head. In the 
home niarket.s. the mejit usually br.ngs about six or seven 
cents on the hoof, and twelve to fifteen cents per pound 
when cut, , 

There are many persons engaged in raising these cattle 
in all parts of the State, and most of them realize very 
handsome results from the sale of these cattle; indeed 
many of the wealthiest and most prominent men in the 
State are those who have acquired their riches from stock- 
raising. 

But it is not in growing the native breeds alone that 
profit can be realized, but in the introduction of new 
breeds, such as the Hereford, Short-horn, Devon and 
others. Within the past three years quite a number of 
each of the breeds above mentioned have been imported 
into the several sections of the State, and In all cases 
within the knowledge of the writer success has attended 
every effort. Rapid strides are being made In the pro- 
duction of graded, as well as thorough bred stock, and 
it is already realized that the small range stock of cattle 
have had their day. It is thus thoroughly demonstrated 
that climatic and all other conditions are entirely suita- 
ble to the successful growing of high class stock in Flor- 
ida, and such being the case there is no valid reason why 
the pastures of this State should not support three mil- 
lion hea'1 of rattle, a^^d market six hundred tlioii«nnd 
head each year, in place of the paltry number of 140.000 
that are annually shipped to Cuba; and then too, they 
will be cattle that will turn the scales at 1000 jmunds 
and yield sixty to seventy five dollars per head, instead 
of weighing five hundred pounds, and fetching the insig- 
nificant sum of fifteen dollar^. It may be safely said, 



228 

that within five years from today, the native cattle will 
not be recognized as such. The improvement in breeds 
will bring about a new order of things, the old race will 
disappear; it will add to the new animal that marbled 
conaition of the tieyh so much in demand in northern 
and. western markets. But cattle raising will have in 
Florida, a value far beyond that which it yields as a food 
producing animal; au<i lh>ricia Jias an opitoriuuity of- 
fered it in connection with this industry tljat no other 
State can possibly have to the same extent ; these are two 
industries that will go hand in hand with stock raising 
in Florida, under the changes being rapidly established 
as indicated; first is the grievous error of sending our 
beef cattle to market on the hoof instead of packing it 
here, and shipping it in cold storage or in cans to msfrket. 
Secona, the loiss of the refuse of the carcas which go to 
make up the fertilizer. What Florida needs and must 
have above all for the production of her immense crops 
of fruit and vegetables, is an abundance of fertilizers; 
then why lose the most important part of the fertilizing 
elements by sending them out of the State to be brought 
back in another form at a large additional outlay. The 
hides, hair, horns, hoofs, and blood ammoniates shoiild 
be kef>t here, adding to our own industvies by building 
up both the stock and fertilizer industries; this is en- 
tirely a feasible and practicable proposition ; as it is now 
every fertilizer manufactory in the State must buy all of 
its material except the phosphate rock, either in Chicago 
or from abroad. Even now there is gi-eat opportunity 
for the establishment of such an industry; if a packing 
establishment were put in operation today, Florida 
could furnish practically the whole amount of the bone 
and blood ammoniates, and all the phosphates necessary 
(lacking only the potash) to the successful cultivation of 
her fruit, vegetable, and staple crops. The full force of 
the situation is best understood when we state that in 
the year 1903, there was consumed in the State, 76,895 
tons of fertilizer, costing on an average thirty dollars 
per ton, or having a value of $2,306,850. 

Much the greater part of the fertilizers and fertilizing 
material going to make up this vast sum, had to be pup- 
chased beyond the limits of the State, when the condi- 
tions could be as well reversed by the manner suggested 



220 

above. Tlu'so nre some of The points thnt make stock 
raisino- both attractive and profitable to a greater degree 
in Florida than in any other State in the I'nion. 

SHEEP RAISING. 

The same argument nsed in behalf of cattle raising 
applies to a greater or less extent in regard to sheep 
raising. They are not so universally grown, though there 
are but six counties in the State in which they are not 
grown. Sheep have done well in all sections of the 
State, though there are some localities better adapted 
to sheep husbandry than others. The larger herds are 
found in West Florida, but there are localities in the 
far eastei-n and southern portions of the State where 
fine herds are found, and where they thrive perfectly. In 
the counties of Volusia. Osceola, Pasco, Polk, Marion, 
Hillsborough, and Manatee, where the great prairies furn- 
ish fine parturage, they are perfectly at home. In fact in 
every section of the State there are large areas of lands 
admirably adapted, and are now used for f^Iieep pastur- 
age. 

The same rlimafic condition, the same grasses, and the 
same water snpT.ly ju" at hand for the sheep raiser, as 
for the cattle man. They are given about the same kind 
of attention in winter as the cattle, and their cost of 
maintaina'M e is projK)rti(»nately less. l*eihai»s no domes- 
tic nnintal yields so much to his owner. com])aratively 
speakini;-. as the sheep, for their cost is merely nominal. 
They suffer less from diseases than almost any other ani-, 
mal. and the diseases that destroy Them by tliousands in 
the North and West ar-e unknown here. There are not 
less than twelve or fifteen million acres of land in Florida 
perfectly suitable for sheep herding, and as a matter of 
cour-se, they should be an indispensable adjunct to every 
farm. Outside of their value as wool-jiroducers. there is 
a -demand for their flesh thnt far over reaches the supply, 
even in the home markets. The land ai-ea adaj^ted to this 
industry, is caT.-able of supjtorting four to five million 
sheep at all seasons. 

HOOS.* 

Are raised as successfully and as ch"a])lv. ri'ob- 
alblv chea]»er. than in any other countTw. No farm, is 
Without its stock of hoes, and few farmers, but what 



230 

make bacon enough to supply their wants throughout the 
year. Of coui^e some will fail, but that is the fault of 
the man, but most of the farmers have a surplus of ba- 
con, lai'd and harms, to dispose of at good prices during 
winter. The fHmous raxor back, of which so much is heard 
of in connection with Florida, which subject has always 
been much exaggerated, has loujg since departed. He has 
either been absorbed by grading with improved stock or 
has -dropped out, and yielded his place to other breeds. 
The breeds that have succeeded to the native stock, and 
which succeed perfectly, are the Berkshire, Poland China^ 
Essex and the Duroe red. These breeds are as success- 
fully raised here as in any country. And all hogs are 
much less susceptible to disease than in any other section 
of country. 

GOATS. 

What has been said of sheep, applies equally as well to 
goats of all breeds yet tried. They thrive with all the 
certainty and vigor of an indigenous tropical plant in 
the rainy season, and if one ever died for lack of food, 
the fact has never been recorded. Angora goats haro 
been tried by only a few persons to a limited extent, and 
with good success ; they require a little different manage- 
ment than that usually meted out to thp common goat, 
but if given the same care and attention necessary to 
make sheep herding successful, they too will yield a large 
profit on the investiflent. 

HORSES. 

Horses are grown in a g»meral way in all parts of the 
State, except in the extreme southern portion. No par- 
ticular care as to breeds is exercised, and the general run 
of horse breeding is of a mixture of Cuban, American 
and Mexican stock that has come by the way of Texaa. 
The offspring of this mixture is a vei-^' hardy, touijrh ani- 
mal, peculinrly arlapted to a warm climate. There are 
numerous growei's of fine stock in various portions of the 
State, notablv f'o novthcrp fountics. Tn this section 
some fine stock is produced from imported thoroughbred 
stallions and selected native stock. Rut for some reason 



231 

no well directed efforts on a large scale have ever been 
made, although success has always attended the effort. 
Each grower or each neighborhood, has been content to 
supply their own wants in this line, without enlarging 
the scope of operation. One reason why this is so, is 
that so many thousands of cheap horses of ordinary 
grade are brought down and scattered all over the South, 
from the Middle West. Such stock is sold in the markets 
here at from |75 to $125 per head, and often for much 
less. The ordinary farmer being easily satisfied, in this 
way, takes little interest in breeding better grades, which 
if he should want to sell would have to compete with the 
cheaper common stock above mentioned. Hence, the 
great majority of horses, and practically all the mules, 
are brought here from other states. That horse breed- 
ing here is successful to a high degree, is known to all, 
and no finer field or opportunity is offered for a profitable 
business in this line, in any country than right here in 
Florida. 

We have shown that we have a climate adapted to 
stock raising, and we have given scientific reasons as to 
■why it is so. We have shown that we have the water 
supply, and the grasses, and forage equal to any country, 
and have given proof that is unquestionable. We have 
shown that we have the territory that produces and sup- 
|)orts these essentials to successful stock raising, and now 
we assert without hesitation, that Florida offers to the 
live stock grower, a better field, and better opportunities 
for success, than is or can possibly be offered by any other 
section of the Union. To the man with capital already 
in hand, or the man with brains, nerve and energy to back 
him, failure is impossible. 



DAIRY FARMING 

This is another industry closely allied to stock raising, 
and a necessary adjunct to all around profitable farming. 
The industry has greatly increased in importance in the 
past six or eisrht vears. Fifteen to twenty years ago a 
considerable number of thoroughbred Jersey. Ayreshire, 
Alderney, and some Holstein and Durham bulls and cows' 



232 

■were introduced into the State, principally in the sectioto 
lying between the Suwannee and Apalachicola rivers. 

The effect of this was very soon noticeable in the better- 
ment of milk stock by grading up, till now a very large 
percentage of the stock, and specially that used for dairy 
purposes 'are either thoroughbreds or high grade, of one 
or the other breeds mentioned, but chiefly Jerseys. At 
this time, however, high grade and thoroughbred dairy 
cattle are to be found in every section of the State and 
the industry is paying handsome profits on the invest- 
ment. The business is steadily increasing, yet the de- 
mand is far greater than the supply, the dairymen of the 
State not being able to supply more than ten per cent, of 
the quantity consumed. 

Last year the milk disposed of to consumers amounted 
to a little over 3,600,000 gallons, valued at $890,000. The 
butter produced amounting the same year to nearly 
600,000 pounds, and sold at something over |140,000. 
This was the product of 35,000 cows of all grades, but 
really the product of about 7,000 cows of improved milk 
stock. That there is an opening here for many times the 
present dimension of this industry is easily seen, and the 
facts as we have briefly given them can be verified by any 
one, at any time. 



POULTRY RAISING. 

The history of ]»on]try raisino in Florida, were it writ- 
ten, would not differ materially fi-om thnt of any other 
section of the couns ry. All varieties of po^iltrv tlu'ive 
perfectly, and with the climatic advantaGP*?. whif h enable 
the greater number of flocks to be hatched and grown in 
the winter months, much of the expense of winter hous- 
ing, and feeding that attaches to poultry farming in more 
northerly sections is avoided. While the diseases are 
fewer in number and not near so fatal in eft'ect. Of 
course ])<)ultrv are l^'ablo to certain diseases, and some of 
them necessarily fatal in any country, but in a mild cli- 
mate, where the flocks can have the open run of the lot 
throujihoiu all seasons of the year, and the coops and 
roosts are ojten at all times, much less labor is retjuired 



233 

to keep perfeet sanitaiy louditions. tlie t'»»wls will eujoy 
better health, aud lay nioie eggs, than when closely con- 
fined, as is necessary in cold climates. In the past few 
years specially, the poultry industry has increased to a 
wonderful degree. Formerly, while vast quantities of 
fowls were jgrown each year, on the farms for market, it is 
only in recent years that poultry farming as a separate 
industry, has been entered into. At this time there are a 
number of such farms being operated on an extensive 
scale in all portions of the State; some of them are said 
to occupy 20 to 50 acres of land in the deve]o])ment and 
operation of their ranches, and, as with every thing else 
that is successful, these growers of ix)ultry are making 
the raising and care of their flocks a great and profitable 
industry, managed and directed by men trained in the 
best methods of fowl production. 

There has also been a great improvement in breeds in 
recent years, and much more attention is bestowed upon 
the selection of brt^eds for special purposes, and this in- 
terest is manifested by the farmers of the country as well 
as the specialist in poultry production. It is a business 
that cannot be overdone and there are opportunities for 
a profitable business in this line to ten times the present 
output. Last year the number of i)()ultry on liaud was 
1,500,000 head,'the market value of which* was |400.31S. 

The eggs marketed for the same period amounted to 
3,052,45.3 dozen, and they were sold in the market for 
$455,G0G, showing a total value of pouhry products fgr 
one year of $855,924. 



FLORIDA FISHERIES. 

There is perhaps no industry of such great importance 
to the State of Florida, about which so little is known by 
the. people generally, although no subject is nun'e univer- 
sally diiscussed with greater pleasure than that of land- 
ing pro'licuous hauls, or some huge specimen of the finy 
tribe, but it is of the industry in its commercial form that 
we write, ami desire to direct attention. 

The peculiar position which Florida occupies, with its 
approximately twelve hundred miles of sea coast, together 



234 

with its numerous large bays, sounds, lagoons, and its 
rivers, lakes and streams all teeming with fish of almost 
every kind and variety, enables it to possess these natural 
advantages to a greater degree than is enjoyed by any 
other state. Formerly, before transportation facilities 
had opened the way to markets beyond the State, this in- 
dustry was almost entirely local in character. Id the 
fall, farmers and others from the interior portion of the 
State, and also from the states of Georgia and Alabama, 
would journey overland to the fisheries on the coast, and 
spend from two to four weeks accumulating a supply of 
Bait fish, principally of the mullet variety, which they 
would take back to their homes for winter use. Even un- 
der these conditions the business paid handsome profits 
to those engaged in it. 

The industry as it is today was begun about the year 
1873, and the great bulk of the business was carried on 
at and from the ports of Pensacola, Apalachicola, Cedar 
Keys and Key We«t, on the Gulf, and Jacksonville and 
Fernandina on the Atlantic Coast. Since that time, 
owing to the continued and rapid increase in transporta- 
tion facilities, through the building of new railroads, the 
industry has increased to immense proportions, still 
capable of expanding an hundred I'old without in the least 
affecting the supply or overreaching the demand, or the 
possibilities of extending the trade. 

Ihe principal branches of the fishing industry are: 
Sponge, Red Snapper, Grouper, Mullet, Pompano, Span- 
ish Mackerel, Oyster and Turtle fishing. 

THE SPONGE FISHERY. 

This fishery has been carried on since Xf^^2, when it was 
discovered that the sponges ffrowini? in Florida waters 
were of as good quality as those of the Mediterranean, 
which, at about that time, had become scarce and costly. 

The Key West people were the founders of the trade 
and they have always been the leaders in this country. 
At first the better qiralites of snonges were bonght for 
ten cents per pound, but their value rapidly increased as 
as the r^roduct became better known. 

The first discovered grounds appeared nearly exhausted 
after twenty years' fishing, when a large area of spong- 



235 

Ing ground was discovered that yielded more abundantly 
than the first. In the year 1870 Apalachicoia and St. 
Harks engaged actively in sponge fishing. 

The methods of capture dift'er greatly from those em- 
ployed in B^urope; where the fi4*hermeu dive down into 
the sea and bring up the sponges. Here, a two-pronged 
hook, at the end of a slender pole of forty feet length, is 
used from small row boats. The small schooners that 
are fitted out at Key West and Apalachicoia, for this 
business, carry crews of from five to fifteen men, who go 
in pairs in the small boats when on the spon^ging grounds. 
One man uses the sponge-hook, while the other sculls the 
boat slowly along. An instrument called a "water glass" 
is used to facilitate the lookout for sponges upon the 
bottom. It is commonly a water bucket with a glass bot- 
tom. The men who use the "water gla8.«i" and sponga 
hook must be expert and their duty is besides very tire- 
some. 

■ Soon after they are caught, the sponges are laid out in 
the sun on the vessel's deck and allowed to die and get 
rid of a large part of the glutinous matter of which thej" 
are composed. 

The next step is to soak them in sea water, In little 
pens called "Kraals" for a week, to looisen the covering 
or skin, that has, by exposure to the sun, become dry and 
tough. After this ithey are beaten and squeezed unti! 
clean and then stored on board the vessel. 

Sponges are sold at Key West altogether by auction. 
The buyers there represent large business firms at Ne\r 
York. 

Each firm has a packing house where the sponges are 
sorted, freed from sand and slimy matter, and trimmed- 
They are shipped in small compressed bales. 

The best season for their fishery is the summer, but oc- 
casionally the winter has b<;en favorable. Success is 
mainly dependent upon the weather, for when the water 
is distnrlxMl by strong winds, it becomes too rough to do 
any fishing. 

The fishing has been a complete failure some years, 
while again it has been very profitable. The natural sup- 
ply of sponges, it is claimed, is becoming exhausted, but 
this is doubtful. The fishermen and dealers continually 
complain of a scarcity. 



23G 

It has been demonstrated that sponge culture is feasi- 
ble and profitable, and it may be classed among the fu- 
ture great industries of Florida. 

THE RED SNAPPER FISHERY. 

The first red snappers were brought to market about 
forty years ago, but for a long time there was ^ no at- 
tempt to make special trips into the Gulf for them. The 
first to engage regularly in the red snapper fishing were 
several Connecticut smack owners who ran small sloop- 
smacks from ^i|e nearest fishing grounds to Mobile and 
New Orleans. This kind of business was carried on for 
twenty years. 

The best fishing grounds for the red snapper ai^e be- 
tween Peusacola and Cedar Key. There are other good 
grounds in the lower part of the Gulf, which find market 
for their catches through the ports of Tampa and Punta 
Gorda, thence by rail to interior points. 

The red snapper is taken wholly with hook and line, in 
from ten to forty fathoms of water. Vessels of five to 
eiight tons, carrying crews of three to eighteen men, are 
fitted up for this business. The fish are preserved in ice, 
or else, in the smaller vessels alive, in "wells." A week 
or ten davs are consumed on a trip, and the catch ranges 
from 2,000 to 30,000 pounds, or 500 to 4.000 fish. As 
Boon as landed the fish are ])acked in ice and sent off by 
raiil in every direction, far and near. 

The red snapper fishing has grown very rapidly during 
the past few years and now stands next to the sponge 
fiishery in importance. It seems safe to predict that it 
will, in a few years more, stand at the head of the list of 
Florida fishing industries. 

THE GROUPER FISHERY. 

This fishery has been one of the main stays of Key 
West, where it was alone jmrsued. It was. wholly de- 
pendent upon Cuban mnrkets. Before the Cnbnns found 
the enterprise to do their own fishing the Key West T)eo- 
ple enjoyed a long and jirofitable traffic with them. Ves- 
sels were brought to Key West from New Englnnd and a 
number w^-re built at home to take part in the fishing. 



237 

It has since failed, partly because the Cubans have 
placed heavy fees and duties upon fishing vessels from 
the United States, and because they have decided to 
catch their own fish, having, it is said, bought a number 
of the Key West vossels for the purpose. 
. The grouper is caught with hook and line in about the 
same manner as the red snapper, but is always preserved 
alive in ''wells." 

Those taken to Havana are caught in five to ten fath- 
oms of water, 200 miles north of Key West, so that they 
may be hardier and better able to bear the long journey 
in confinement than those that are found in the deep 
waters near Key West. 

THE MULLET FISHERY. 

While not the most valuable commercially, the mullet 
fishery is probably the most important to the Florida 
setler. 

The mullet occurs about the coast everywhere, and for 
a large part of the yeaF is the most abundant and easily 
secured of any of the fishes. In season (during the fall), 
it is also a very excellent food fish. It ranges in weight 
from one to five pounds. It is most extensively pursued 
during the fall months, when it is schooling. 

Seines are run around the schools and great quantities 
are often taken. vStations are selected at the most fav- 
orable points on the coast where crews of fishermen are 
busily employed for several months. 

The greater part of their catch is salted, but a great 
quantity is packed in ice and shipped to the interior mar- 
kets by rail. 

The most valuable stations, which are on the southwest 
coast, south of Tampa Bay, are worked to supply the de- 
mand for salt mullet in Havana. North of Tampa Bay, 
on either side of the peninsula, the catch is sold to the 
nearer markets in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. While 
the fishing is going on, the stations are visited by many 
customers from the country, who travel with horse and ox 
carts and are prepared to carry their purchases home 
with them. The roes of the mullet are always saved and 
are prepared for sale by being lightly salted and then 
dried. 



23i 

Almost every coast settler in Florida has a cast-net with 
which to supply his table with mullet. During the first 
four months of the year there is one species of mullet in 
good condition, and about the time they have become 
poor the other species has become edible, and continues 
good until December, so that there is an almost constant 
supply of good fish easily availa:ble to those who care to 
use from it. 

The mullet is rather better in a salted condition than 
most fishes, and it comes very near in excellence to the 
mackerel of the North. 

THE POMPANO AND OTHER FISHES. 

The choicest of the Florida fishes, the pompano, blue- 
flsh, Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, channel bass and sea 
trout, are taken mainly with seines in the same manner 
as mullet. 

The pompano is caught in small schools in shoal water 
along the sea beaches, where it feeds upon shell fishes. 
During the seasons when it is scarce it brings very high 
prices, occasionally to the fislw^men i|l a piece, fallinjg 
when abundant to five or six cents apiece. The fish aver- 
age one and a half pounds each, and has not been found 
weighing over six and a quarter pounds, although another 
species of poorer edible qualities gnt'ows to a weight of 
twenty pounds. The pompano is shipped from Tampa 
Bay, Jacksonville, Cedar Key, Carrabelle and Pensacola 
to the interior. 

The Spanish mackerel is taken in seines and gill nets, 
as it occasionally comes into tshoal water within their 
reach. Tt is readily sold for a good price during the 
period of its "mn,"' and would appear in market much 
longer if there was some economical way to capture it in 
deen water, where it occurs in abundance for several 
months. 

The bliT'^fi^^h is tjU'en with the Spanish mackerel. It la 
very ahnnr'nint nt timps. but not so snler'ble n"? the two 
epecieis Just niert'one'l, from the fact that it does not well 
bear handling and transnortation. When enclosed in 
larre numbers in npts it is very d^^trTictive to thf» twine 
f,,, 1 ic, ^i,^voforp pbrinned by the fishermen when other 
fishes can be caught. 



239 

The sea trout, red fish or channel bass, and Hheepshead 
are taken mainly in the waters of the bays an<I lajfoons 
on the grassy bottoms. The trout and sheepshead sell for 
about the same price aa blue fish. They are not often 
found in large schools and but comparatively few are 
handled by the fish shippers. 

The channel bass is rather more abnndant, but as it is 
considered an inferior fish, it is not utilized to any great 
extent. 

THE OYSTER FISHERY. 

The people of Florida have good reason to be proud of 
the large sikpply of fine oysters that occur in the waters 
of the state. It has been estimated that there ai*e more 
than 12.800 square acres of edible oysters in the waters 
of Florida. 

They occur in natural bed-s in the salt and brackish 
waters of the bays of the northern parts of the State, on 
the east and west coasts. Along the shores of the south- 
ern part of the peninsula are large reefs of a small oyster 
known as ''coon oyster," or "tree oyster," the latter name 
^eferri^^? to their habit of growing upon the tide-washed 
roots of the mangrove tree. These oysters are of no com- 
mercial value, because of their diminutiveness. 

The only method of gathering oysters in Florida is that 
of the use of the ordinary oyster-tongs. Dredges or other 
improved apparatus have not yet been required. Small 
shoal sail boats are ei7gaged in this fishery to market the 
product. Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Cedar Key, Jackson- 
ville, Pensacola, St. Andrews Jiay, and Tampa are the 
principal oyster markets. Apalachicola has of late years 
been doing a thriving business in canning the excellent 
oysters of that vicinity. The larger part of Fforic^a fresh 
oysters is consumed within the State, but thousands of 
barrels are Rhi{)pe(t by rail to interior markets a<s far 
north as Tennessee, including Alabama and Georgia in 
their markets. 

RIVER FISHERIES. 

The river fisheries are nlpo of importance, and tliig 
branch of the industry' is pursued throughout the water- 



240 

ways of the entire state, either for home consumption or 
for the market. 

For the past few years the U. S. Fish Commission has 
at stated periods during the spring months, planted many 
millions of shad fry in a large number of the most irtt- 
portaut rivers of the State, and as far as known yet, the 
experiment is proving sucoessful ; but shad in great quan- 
tities are oaueht in the St. Johns river ever.^ spring, -ind 
an immense business is done by the fishermen in supply- 
ing the home and more northerly interior markets at high- 
ly remunerative jtrices. 

The State has a Fish Commission, composed of three 
persons, whose duty is to repi'esent the State's interests in 
the fishery laws. The pi*esident of the Commission is 
Hon. J. Y. Detwiler, of New Smyrna, Fla., to whom ap 
plicants for information are directed. 

Below will be found a statement of the number of peo- 
ple engaged in the fisheries industry on the Atlantic 
Coast of Florida, the number of vessels, and their ton- 
nage, and a list of the material and appliance used in 
operating the business; also, a complete list of the fish, 
and variety caught, the quality, and value of the product 
for the year 1902, as reported by the U. S. Fish Commit 
sion. 

Items. Number. Value. 

Persons emploved 2,698 

Vessels fishing' 7 $ 6,225 

Tonnages 98 

Outfit 1,405 

Vessels transporting 2 1,655 

Tonnage 18 

Outfit 750 

Boats 1,400 71,710 

Seines 145 11,277 

Gill nets 1,781 58,435 

Pound nets and weirs » 1 50 

Cast nets ■ 125 693 

Lines >• ' 560 

Tongs, rakes, hoes and grabs 216 860 

Other apparatus 4,968 

Shore property 80,490 

Cash capital ". 115,750 

Total $ 354,835 



241 

Products Pounds. Valne. 

Alewives fresh 405,697 $ 1,596 

^^Sel-^^^ 4550 '71 

^f^^^^f^ 1,000 50 

S'''^ ?^'f •; 314,310 12,449 

Bluefish, fresh 78 500 3 548 

Sonito 7120 212 

Bream and sunfish 643,^514 14,149 

™^®^--;: 610,742 12,152 

Cero and kmgfish Sl^go '313 

™^"^ ••• 5,900 95 

Croakers, fresh 6,593 191 

i^f''"'^ 134,885 3,815 

^^^"^•^^^•« 49,380 1392 

g^"^t« ••• 33,442 755 

Hickory shad 58,666 2,651 

^""^t, fi-esh 7,340 916 62 347 

^""on-fish 4;740 ' gg 

254 

28 



l^'fi 10;342 

I'S-^^^ 1,800 

?rrr 205,231 21,835 

159 

831 

1,045 

43 



^^i'P? ••••. 5,300 

bailor's choice and pin-fish 43 533 

f^a ^ass .' 29,'80O 

Sergeant-fish 2 828 

s^ff ••••; '••*•• 1^819,431 124,760 

Sheepshead 404,251 7400 

Snappers, red 20,000 400 

Snappers, other 8,043 m 

Spanish mackerel 659,088 34,374 

Spot, fresh 32,451 825 

Squeague, fresh 898,563 26,26T 

Strawberry bass 221,606 5 166 

^^^L;. • 82,150 3;657 



Yellow-tail 1366 

Alligator hides *.***.;.*;.'.*;.* ioo;n87 13,538 

^^^^ :"' 5,200 325 

^;f«'^^^d 6,066 152 

^*^"r«^'°« 2,927 17,352 

2r^''\: 2,163,483 37188 

Periwinkles 5 4O0 '12O 

16 H. F. 



21 



242 

Products. Pounds. Value. 

Prawn 3,012,360 62,896 

Shrimp 494 ' 34 

Terrapin 3,940 1,164 

Tortoise shells 20 50 

Turtle 12,200 787 



Total 19,584,265 ? 477,866 

Supplemental Products, Quantity. Value. 

Alligator hides, number 22,375 $ 13,538 

Clams, bushels 650 325 

Crabs, hard, number 18,189 152 

Otter skins, number 2,927 17,352 

Oysters, bushels 309,069 37,188. 

Terrapin, number 1,480 1,164 

The following is from the official report of the U. S. 
Fish Commission for the Gulf Coast, for 190!?. It will 
be noted that there are almost double the number of vari- 
eties in the Gulf, as in the Atlantic, and having a com- 
mercial value of more than three times that of the At- 
lantic. A casual glance at these statements is quite suf- 
ficient to show the immense possibilities of this already 
great industry : 

Items. Number. Value. 

Persons employed 6,416 



Vessels fishing 243 $ 396,175 

Tonnage 3,928 

Outfit 190,611 

Vessels transporting ; . . . . 63 82,950 

Tonnnge 809 

Outfit' 43,853 

Boats 2,666 330,220 

Seines 146 13.075 

Gill nets 1,661 46.742 

Stop nets 302 16.110 

Tr,TmpioI nets . .' -^ ^ 2,5^0 

Fyke nE>ts 10 60 

Dip netg 16 9 

Capt nets 77 363 

Lines 2.472 

'Sponge apparatus 6.663 



243 



Items. Number. Value. 

Tongs t)08 4,887 

Minor apparatus 2,486 

Shore and accessory property 318.80.^) 

Cash capital 492,250 

Total I 945,320 

Products. Pounds. Value. 

Amberfish 42,140 $ 1,051 

Angel-fishes 71,12G 1,831 

Barracuda 34,435 1,203 

Black bass 12,680 455 

Blue-fish, fresh 346,606 10,567 

Blue-fish, salted 3,000 120 

Bonito 10,100 503 

Butter-fish 3.140 46 

Cat-fish '. . . . 75,800 1,690 

Channel bass, or red-fish 1,104,251 16,247 

Creville 54,665 16,247 

Drum, salt water 193,625 . 2,738 

Flounders 80,181 2,182 

German carp 1,175 33 

Groupers 437,089 7,279 

Grunts 374,200 18,029 

Hog-fish 65. UM) 3.236 

Hound-fish 6,000 360 

Jurel 30,025 369 

King-fish 151,900 3,843 

Lady-fish, fresh 697,800 11,945 

Lady-fish, salted 700 21 

Margate-fish 3,500 222 

Menhaden 2,500 25 

Moon-fish 10,628 314 

Mullet, fresli 22,223.685 327,123 

Mullet, salted 2,589,190 77,313 

Mullet roe, salted 134,887 6,270 

Mutton-fish 28,301 84« 

Permit 10,010 500 

Pig-fish 2,000 60 

Pike nnd pickerel 175 9 

Pompano 487,099 26,276 



244 

Products. Pounds. Value. 

Porgies 70,960 3,548 

Pork-fish 23,332 3,145 

Sailor's choice or pin fish 111,746 3,736 

Sardines 29,600 998 

Sea bass 9,800 128 

Sheepshead 1,373,650 21,686 

Snappers, red 8,074,066 237,428 

Snappers, other 358,256 10,428 

Spanish mackerel, fresh 1,432,356 55,908 

Spot 14,250 300 

Sturgeon 343,291 8,532 

Sturgeon caviar 5,691 3,026 

Suckers 4,800 372 

Sun-fishes 15,100 646 

Tang 200 10 

Trout, or squeteague, fresh 1,804,614 44,221 

Trout, or squeteague, salted 54,098 2,024 

Trunk-fish 300 12 

Turbot 850 66 

Whiting 20,254 303 

Yellow-tail 93,687 6,036 

Other fish 400 16 

Alligator hides 54,400 4,109 

Clams 800 100 

Conchs 3,334 890 

Crabs, hard 1,333 83 

Crabs, soft 280 84 

Crabs, stone 11,681 1,799 

Crawfish 55,664 3,282 

Otter skins 356 1,013 

Oysters 4,057,107 124,108 

iShrimp 17,280 288 

Sponges 346 899 364,422 

Terrapin 30,899 4,22f 

Tortoise shells 495 1,733 

Turtle 369,257 28,385 

Turtle eggs 600 99 

Total .48,120,019 |!l,462,n:6 



245 

Supplemental pif)ducts. Quantity. Value. 

'Alligator hides, number 9,067 f 4,109 

Clams, bushels 100 100 

Crabs, hard, number 3,999 83 

Crabs, soft, number 840 84 

Crabs, stone, number 11,681 1,799 

Otter skins, number 201 1,015 

Oysters, bushels 579,587 124,108 

Terrapin, number 10,593 4,227 



FERTILIZERS. 

• 

Only a brief reference is necessary to this subject here, 
though it is one of the most important subjects connected 
with farming operations. This article is not, however, 
intended to discuss the subject in de'tail or deal with the 
various methods of fertilizing crops, but more specially 
to direct attention to the fact, that we have here in va- 
rious foriDS. material for making manures, that cannot 
be found in all states as cheaply or as readily as in Flor- 
ida. The immense deposits of phosphate rock ai-e of 
course well known to all the world ; this material is a nec- 
essary ingifdient in every fertilizer if perfect plant 
growth is desired ; it is the only mineral adapted to the 
purpose, except marl, that we know to exist in the State, 
but botli of these are in quantities that will last for all 
time. The large nuiiiber of suliihur springs is a rpasona- 
ble indication that beds of sulphur exist, and will some 
day be discovered. This opinion has been expressed by 
some very emiuPirl scieniitic men. If so, the manufac- 
ture of commercial fertilizer could be conducted on a mor.'; 
profitable basis than anywhere in the country, and even if 
it were not so. the close proximity of the sulohur deT30sits 
of Mexico, whieh are now being operated, will ultimately 
enable niarnifnctui'ci*^! to sn]n>lv fertilizers at less cost than 
at present. Tn addition to these materials named, there 
ar'' immense ]hh^< of muck, decayed vegetable matter, that 
when pnnMM-lv manipulated, also makes a fine fertilizer 
of great eheaitness. It is particularly efficient when com- 
bined with acid phosphate — dissolved phosphate rock — 
and cotton seed or cotton seed meal, stable manuTO and 



246 

other material in the form of compost, a form which 
every farmer can work up to the purpose suited to hi» 
needs. There may be other minerals adapted to these pur- 
poses, not omitting lime, which is to be had at all times, 
but in the absence of a Geological Survey of the fetate, 
which successive Ijegislatures have thus far refused to 
establish, nothing is known of them. In addition to 
these are the well known leguminous plants, so well 
adapted to soil renovation, referred to elsewhere, when 
combined with, or in connection with the materials 
already mentioned render fertilizing easier, better, and 
cheaper than in almost any other section of the country. 



MINERAL RESOURCES. 

Fop reasons previously stated, the want of a Geological 
Survey, little is known of the minerals that do exist or 
those that may exist, in the State, except the phosphates, 
Fullers Earth, and clays, such as kaolin. These three are 
mined and worked extensively. Iron ore of excellent 
quality is found in several localities, notably in Levy 
County ; Gypsum, Fire Clay, and cement rock are known 
to exist, and the presence of many other minerals are 
strongly suspected, in fact there are numerous indica- 
tions, such as are usually observed in connection with 
these matters. 



FIBRE BEARING PLANTS. 

We can only refer briefly to those principal fibre bear- 
inig plants having a present commercial value, and which 
thrive in Florida soil, as in fact all of them do as though 
they were indigenous to the country, as many of them are. 

The fibre-bearing plants capable of successful and 
profitable cultivation in this State are in great variety, 
comprising practiralh', if not <)uit(\ All the fibres, or an 
equally good substitute for them, that are 'imported Into 
the United States annually. The T'liited States, and par- 
ticularly the South, is probably the largest consu»ier of 



247 

long fibres in the form of jute, used in handling the cot- 
ton croj> and its products of all other countries in the en- 
tire world. It is also the largest consumer of long fibre, in 
the form of binders twine, in the harvesting and handling 
of the grain crops of the country, and in the manufac- 
ture and use of certain kinds of bagging, rope, etc. 

In Florida, the climatic conditions, such as tempera- 
ture, humidity, regular supply of moisture, and also soil, 
favor in the hi'ighest degree the growing of these plants 
in as great perfection as that of any country in the world. 
This statement is fully confirmed by the unqualified suc- 
cess of repeated experiments made throughout a period 
of sixty odd years. Indeed there are many of them that 
need no experimenting with, their natural and perfect 
adaptability to soil, climate, and every other condition is 
demonstrated by the unfailing and vigorous growth made 
in the wild uncultivated state. 

Following is a list of the fibre plants which thrive in 
Florida, with a brief description of them and their uses, 
as far as known. 

AGAVE SIS ALAN A— SISAL HEMP— HENEQUEN 

PLANT. 

This is the same as Manilla Hemp. The plant is found 
Igrowing in nearly all parts of Florida south of the 29th 
degree of latitude, and it also frequently matures as far 
north as Jacksonville, and as far west as the Apalachicola 
river, but as it does not stand very cold weather it would 
not be safe to plant it for commercial purposes north of 
the line above mentioned very much. The plant was in- 
troduced into Florida in the year 18.30-37, by Dr. Henry 
Periue, who had beoti Ignited States Consul at ram])eachy. 
He had obtained a grant of land from ^the United States 
for the purpose of introducing and experimenting with 
tropical plants. He was never able to carry his project 
into effect, as he was killed by the Indians in the Indian 
Key massacre in 1840. The Agave Sislana will grow and 
thrive in nearly every variety of Florida soils, but it is 
generally believed that the poorer sandy soil is best 
adapted to its cultivation, because of the superiority of 
the fibre over that grown on rich soils. The life of the 
plant in which it yields profitably is about fifteen years. 



246 

It is easy of cultivation and very inexpensive. It has na 
known enemies, and is unaffected by either drought or ex- 
cessive rainfall, and requires no fertilization. 

SANSEVIERIA— BOWSTRING HEMP. 

This plant is found growing in nearly all parts of Flori- 
da, principally in gardens as an ornamental plant. It* 
value as a fibre producing plant is not generally known. 
It is commonly recognized as Rattlesnake Lilly, or Spot- 
ted Lilly, makes rapid growth in suitable soil, and spreads 
rapidly, completely taking possession of the soil in a 
short time. The plant has been known and prized in In- 
dia from ii'eraote antiquity under the name of Murva. . The 
Sansevieria abounds on the coast of Guinea, around Cfey- 
lon, and the Bay of Bengal, extending even to the coast 
of .Java and China. The plants are easily propagated, 
and grow with ease, practically taking care of themselves. 
Of the several varieties the Sansevieria is the best to cul- 
tivate for fibi'e. The fibre is capable of being manufac- 
tured into anything, from the heaviest cordage to the 
finest fabric for ladies dress goods, and is considered equal 
to many of the finest silks in beauty and fineness of tex- 
ture. It grows with perfect ease and isucceass in the same 
latitude as Sisal Hemp, and can be grown safely much 
further south. It is one of the most valuable of all the 
fibre bearing plants, and is thoroughly adapted to the soil 
and climate of Florida. 

BROMELIA SYLVESTRIS— WILD PINEAPPLE. 

This j)lant is found growing in great abundance in Mex- 
ico, Central and South America, and the West Indies. It 
thrives upon poor barren sandy or rocky soils, grows rap- 
idly, and produces leaves as much as tAvelve feet in length. 
The leaf is identical in sha])e with the Pineapple leaf. 
The plant is propagated by suckers, as are the pineapple. 
It has not been grown on Florida soil except as an ex- 
periment, and it succeeded perfectly. The length of the 
fibre makes it very valuable, and of superior sti'cngth. It 
is much liuhter tlian hemr*. and sai<'' to r>ossess a greater 
average strength by four times than hemp. 



249 

pineapplp: fibre. 

The cultivation of the Pineapple in Florida begun about 
50 years ago, on the keys of the East Coast, near Biscayne 
Bay. Its production continued to increase until it has 
become one of the most profitable and important of the 
Florida fruit industries. It is now grown on the keys 
and East Coast from Biscayne Bay, north to irpper In- 
dian River, in Lee, DeSoto and Manatee counties, the Lake 
region of Polk County, in Hillsborough, Orange and Os- 
ceola counties, and also other parts of South Florida. 

It is generally understood that the leaves of the plant 
contain a fine fibre of great value, and it is even now be- 
ing used in the manufacture of various fabrics. A ma- 
chine or factory is now ])repar>ng it at White City, with 
it is said, decided success. Thousands of tons of these 
leaves go to waste every year that could be utilized for 
valuable purposes. The leaves of the ])ineapple are of no 
value to the plant after the fruit has been removed and 
using them for fil»re. is simply utilizing a waste product 
to a valuable purpose. In a report by the United States 
on this subject we find the following: 

"The fibre of the Pineap])le is very soft and fine, the fila- 
ments being quite flexible and resistent. 

"In the East Indies, where the Pinen])])le was intro- 
duced as early as 1000. the fibre is extensively used in 
the manufacture of the delicate fabric called pina. as well 
as for cordage. Pina is considered to be more delicate in 
texture than any other known to the vegetable kingdom." 

The fibre now being produced at White City is long-, ex- 
ceedingly fine and of great strength. The natural color 
is whiteish-blue. or flaxen, but is quite susce|»tible to dye- 
ing processes. The fibre is adapted to the manufacture of 
various yarns and webs, and a beautifnl silken like fabric 
has been i%'oduced thereform. Undoubtedly, the Pine- 
apple plant could be cultivated ]irpfitably for its fibre 
alone, but taking into consideration the value of its fruit 
as well, it at once becomes one of the moh^t vrihiable of all 
plants. 



260 

URENA LOBATA— FLORIDA JUTE. 

This plant is indigenous to Florida soil and climate, 
and is foiind growing wild and uncultivated in nearly 
every portion of the State. It is commonly known as 
"Caesar Weed," and termed by some peojvle as "French 
Cockle Burr." This plant produces an excellent fibre, 
which is found in the bark of the plant, and it belongs to 
that class known as past fibres, such as Jute, Ramie, etc. 
The fibre is long, firm, soft, nearly white, and has a silken 
lustre, and in the opinion of competent judges, will make 
an excellent substitute for flax. This plant, in common 
with many other Florida weeds, grows up in the early 
spring and summer months, and dies down late in the fall. 
As a fibre producing plant, it is one of great merit. 

BOEHMERIA NIVEA— RAMIE. 

This i)lant was first introduced into the United States 
from China about the year 1855, It is said to have been 
cultivated in China and Egypt over four thousand years 
ago, and that fine fabrics were woven of its fibre at that 
time. This fact is proven by the discovery of Egyptian 
cerments used in the wrappings of mummies. It has also 
been cultivated in Japan, Java, Bornea, Sumatra, and the 
East Indies, whence it has been introduced to other coun- 
tries during the last century. Ramie is also known as 
China grass and Cheva grass, though it is not a grass. 

For about thirty-five years those interested in, and en- 
gaged in the textile industries, had been endeavoring to 
find a process by which the plant could be utilized for fac- 
tory purposes in this country, instead of having to rely 
upon the far East for a supply. Wide spread interest 
was taken in the ettorts to invent machinery for decorti- 
cating, and processes for deguniming. Until recently 
machinery at first thought to be perfect, failed in final 
tests, but now the inventors skill has overcome all diffi- 
culties, and perfect working machinery is at work in a 
number of places. 

The plant is a coarse perennial, producing a great num- 
ber of liollow stems about as thick as tlie little finger, 
which are cut when four or five feet high. When once 
established it grows for twenty years or more, yielding 



251 

several crops a year in the most favorable latitudes. It 
is propagated fropi divisions of the roots or from rooted 
joints of the stems, prodiicetl by layering. Five thou- 
sand roots will plant an acre. After that the plant 
springs up from the roots everywhere. After the second 
year no cultivation is needed, and an abundant supply of 
young plants is always at hand. A start may be made 
with seeds, but slips and cuttings, when obtainable, are 
to be preferred. 

Rich and light, sandy soil is best adapted to ramie, 
and it flourishes on alluvial soil. The preparation of thft 
ground is important. Before planting it should be 
plowed to a depth of twelve or fifteen inches, and left 
fallow until the herbage turned under has time to decay. 
The fertilizing elements needed in addition to the decay- 
ing vegetation are potash, soda and phosphates. The 
planting can be done from March until the end of October, 
but in the hot season care must be taken to moisten the 
gi'ound well during the first two weeks after planting. 
During the first year the plantation must be kept clear of 
weeds. The rov/s should be three feet apart, the plants 
needing to be close together in order to produce straight 
stalks without any branches. The stalks grow from six 
to ten feet high, fifteen to twenty in a clump, bearing on 
the upper portion large leaves, which are white on the 
uuder surface. From the base underground runners are 
sent out a long distance. There is little chance for weeds 
after the second year, and then cultivation may cease. 

If the land is poor and thin it should be top-fertilized 
with muck or ordinary compost each winter, in December 
or January. It is not an exhaustive crop, and on a good, 
deep, rich soil will thrive many years without manure. 
The leaves of the plant contain a large amount of potash, 
and if allowed to remain on the ground or are turned 
under, they act as a fine fertilizer. In the Gulf States, 
Ramie has been grown in an exjierimental way, in a large 
variety of soils, from the light sandy uplands to the irich 
alluvial Louisiana bottom lands; the medium light soils, 
however, have given the best results. In Florida where 
it has been tested for fifteen years the medium light, well 
drained uplands have yielded best results: but any good 
soil that will jiroduce other crops well will also do well 
for Ramie, if it be well drained. 



252 

The fibre of Kamie is very handsome, resembling silk, 
and is exceedingly strong. It has twicewRs great sti*ength 
as flax and hemp. It washes much better than any other 
textile, and becomes whiter than hemp and flax. When 
properly worked it has the luster of silk to such an extent 
that it is used for many fancy articles, dresses, fine passe- 
menteries, portieres, plush, etc. Ramie is more hygienic 
than flax, hemp or cotton, and its use is recommended in 
hospitals for dressing wounds. It does not decay in wa- 
ter, and for this reason it is in great demand wherever 
resistance to the atmosphere and water is needed. With 
Ramie, or "Vegetable Silk," as it has been called, valua- 
ble combinations can be, and are being made with cotton, 
wool, flax, and silk. This fibre will doubtless enter large- 
ly into w^earing apparel in the near future, and the grow- 
ing and manufacture of it may be expected to take rank 
among the leadini;:? industries of the Southern States; 
especially should it be so in Florida, where natural condi- 
tions are most favorable, and Ramie is destined some day 
to become a leading source of wealth. Now that ma- 
chinery has been invented for the perfect extraction of the 
fibre from the plant, there is probably no crop that can be 
better grown, with proper management, or made more 
profitable at so little cost of labor as Ramie. 

There are numerous other fibre bearing plants of j)0ssi- 
bly equal value, indigenous to this country, such ;is, In- 
dian mallow, whose bark yields a fine and long fibre. The 
plant grows in almost every yard and stable lot, coming 
"op spontaupously. and grows vigorously to a height of 
three to five feet. 

Bear Grass, one of the palmetto family of plants, sup- 
plies a fibre from the long leaf that for fine cordage or 
combining in the manufacture of ordinary fabrics has no 
superior. It grows in immense quantities in its wild 
state alm ost all over every section of the State. 

Lgave Mexicaiia", iiv'^miMm^ Plant, is of the same family 
of plants as Agave Sisalana, or Sisal Hemp. Its fibre is 
in the leaves, like the Sisal plant, and has to be extracted 
and treated in the samo ninnnev. The fibre is coarser 
than the Sisal and not so valuable, but can be grown in 
almost all of Eastern and Soutli Florida. 

Spanish Rayonet, or Yucca Palm — This plant is useful 
for the medicinal properties of its berries, as well as for 



253 

lie fibre of the leaves, wliich is of a quality almost equal 
:o the pineapple fibre. The plant grows in great abund- 
ince in every section of the State, and is not affected by 
;he coldest temperature, known so far in Florida. 

Palmetto, Saw Talmetto— This is the well known plant 
hat grows in eveiy section of Florida, covering iitorally 
iiillions of acres,, therefore practically inexhaustible, 
rhe fibre, like the^ Spanish Bayonet, and the B-^ar Grass, 
s in the leaf, and is the equal in quality of either. All 
ire adapted to the same method of decortication, and is 
?aid to yield to treatment much easier than the Sisal 
Semp. The fibre is adapted to the same purposes as the 
pineapple and the other palmettos; and in addition has 
Shielded writing paper — stationery — of finest quality, be- 
ing equal in every respect to the very best quality of linen 
paper. 

Okra, the palatable vegetable, made famous in connec- 
tion with "Gumbo" a favorite dish in the Southern 
States, particularly in the Carolinas, Georgia smd Flor- 
ida, and the entire Gulf Coast country, contains in its 
bark a fibre of great streng-th and firmness. 

Cotton, the plant that supplies the downy fibre which 
lias yielded a covering to man throughout the civilized 
world, for centuries, also contains in the plant itself a 
fibre of unusual strength and firmness. This and the 
>kra plant, have only been experimented with to a lim- 
ited extent, but the existence of the fibre, specially in the 
cotton plant, has been known for man}' years ; the extrac- 
tion of the fibre is perfectly feasible, and would un- 
doubtedly be profitable. 

Pine Straw— The leaves from the pine trees of the for- 
ests furnish a fibre that has been used successfully in the 
manufacture of oruse fabrics, such as baggins:. in which 
cotton is wrapped when baled. Vast quantities of this 
material go to waste every year, that should be employed 
in some useful purpose; it, as said, has been successfully 
manufactured into bagging; sixty million yards, approx- 
imately of this material, are used every year in wrapping 
the cotton crop alone, and if the pine straw will make a 
satisfactory material for the purpose, it would seem the 
height of folly to import jute from India ; there is money 
in this industry to those who engage in it. There are 



254 

other fibre bearing plants of minor importance, but we 
have not the space to devote to them. 

^ow that the necessary machinery for the working up 
of these various fibre plants has been invented and proven 
successful, the fibre plants mentioned can be cultivated 
profitably by farn-.ers in the section of the State wiiere 
the several varieties are adapted. The prospective home 
seekers, looking for a more congenial clime in which to 
prosecute his husbandry, has the assurance that the cul- 
tivation of fibre plants will be found not only remunera- 
tive, but attended with less difficulties and anxiety, than 
the crops of a more rigorous latitude; while the man with 
capital seeking profitable investments will find in the 
fibre industry, unexceptionable inducements for the in- 
vestment of his capital. There is no question but that 
the business will prove highly remunerative and satisfac- 
tory. 



SILK. 



At various times, considerable work haa been done in 
efforts to permanently establish the production of silk 
in Florida; but so far without isuccess; not that there 
wag at any time serious difficulty in the production of 
the worms, or of obtaining the ])roper food for them, but 
that the times and conditions did not seem to fit; more 
probably because so few had any practical knowledge of 
how to conduct such a business, and that so many other 
things of which they had knowledge continually pre- 
sented themselves, that enough interest in silk culture 
could not be aroused to put the industry on an Impor- 
tant footing. All experiments met with complete sue* 
cegs, and for a number of years a few persons persevered 
in the attempt to establish the business, but from vari- 
ous cau-^es finally gave it up. But this fact does not 
necessf^rily prove it a failure. All conditions here are 
peculiarly favorable for the successful prosecution of the 
busi'"e/!s; the cli:^iate 's m^ivf^ favo^-'r'^f" ''vni tb-TTi tli'^t 
of Italy, because it is much milder; both varieties of 
the mulberrv, mori^s multicnvli?. ?irifl mni'tis alba, are 
natives of the country, and thrive luxurantly. These 



trees grow so rapidly, that in three years from the cut- 
tings, by which means they are propagated, they will 
furnish heavy crops of foliage for the worms. 

The experiments above aluded to made by persons, near 
St. Augustine, at Bellville, in Hamilton county, and at 
Tallahassee, the latter about the years 1875 to 1882. 

There is no good reason why this mcst valnble f-'taple 
should not be produced on a large and remunerative 
scale, and if it were intelligentry directed and pushed by 
energy and skill, ihere can be no doubt of success. 



CINNAMOMUM CAMPHCR A— CAMPHOR 
TREE. 

This is the tree from which the gum camphor of com- 
merce is manufactured, and is sold by the drug stores 
throughout the country. It is a native of the Islands 
of Borneo and Formosa, the latter supplying the greater 
amount used in commerce. 

The tree has been tried in nearly all parts of the State, 
and in most localities succeeds well. The climate here 
differs chiefly from that of Fonrosa. in that it is not so 
hot in summer. The tree stands a temperature as low 
as IS ard 20 (^ef^- f s Fproitb^'ii. n'ithont injury, and 
grows rapidly, attaining considerable size in a few years. 
A large number of trees are now growing, mostly in 
Central and South Florida, and is destined in a short 
time to assume an economic importance of considerable 
ma.Tnitudp. »It can be. and w'll >>o ir» a few rpnrs. a ])rof- 
itable industry; as the demand for the product is grow- 
ing n'ore rapidly than the supply, it is increasing in value 
continually; and as the soil and climate of Florida are 
both h»"hlv favoTfi-le n^^d nc'n'it'^d ih^ f^rowth of tl'o tr^e, 
its cultivation and manufacture, should prove a profita- 
ble industry. 



256 

THE WOODS OF FLORIDA. 

It is probably within the bounds of strict conservatism 
to gaj that, there are close to twelve miluoa acres of 
available timber lands still standing in the State. It is 
not as formerly owned by the State, but by far the great 
majority of it is owned by private parties and land com- 
panies or syndicates. In fact the. State no longer owns 
any large consecutive bodies of timber lands. Immense 
quantities of tliis i»ine rirobor are being boxed for tur- 
pentine, and is then cut and sawed up into lumber; the 
high prices and great demand for its products being an 
inducement for rapid manufacture. Of all the trees of 
the forests of Florida the longleaf yellow pine is the 
most valuable; the enormous use made of it as a struc- 
tural material in all parts of the world, and for the man- 
ufacture of a great variety of articles of every day neces- 
sity, has given it a commercial importance and value sec- 
ond to none, and in this State specially, it teads every 
other article of commerce exported from Florida, in 
value, as shown by the article on exports in another part 
of this work. The prices of these lands have increased 
materially in the last few years, on account of the de- 
mand for the manufactured products, but they are still 
much cheaper than they should be when the high per- 
centage of profits on the investment are considered. 

CYPRESS. 

In addition to this vast area of yellow pine, there are 
also large tracts of cypress timber found in every section 
of the State. This timber comes next in value to the pine. 
Its use is not so universal as an all-purpose wood, but it 
is specially adapted to the manufacture of shingles, doors, 
sash, blinds, buckets, tubs, pails and for almost every pur- 
pose to which cedar was formerly adapted, and which it 
has in a great measure displaced. In addition to the 
above purposes it is largely used for cross ties and tele- 
graph poles, staves for syrup and sugar barrels and hogs- 
heads, etc. It is manufactured in immense quantities for 
all purposes where contact with vcater or other liquids is 
necessary, for which purpose it is peculiarly adapted. 
There are quite a number of large mills engaged in manu- 



257 

facturing cypress in to the various forms demanded by 
trade and commerce, and vast quantities of the products 
are annually exported to all parts of this country and the 
world generally. 

KEDCEDAK. 

This is the wood so extensively used in the manufacture 
of pencils, but its continued use has depleted the supply 
until the acreage of cedar has dwindled to small propor- 
tions coiiii»ai*cd to its former area. In fact there are no 
longer the large bodies of cedar that were formerly so 
abundant, and what there is left is of great value. 

THE LIVE OAK. 

The wood of this tree was depended on for the frame 
work of ships, and all other ocean craft, till the '"age of 
steel" supplanted it to a large; extent with steel. It is a 
very valuable wood, and great quantities of it still exist 
along the coast and rivers, and in the low swampy ham- 
jnock lands. The tree attains gigantic size, and aside 
from its commercial value, is much prized as a shade tree. 

CATALPA. 

Of this family of trees, there are several varieties grow- 
ing in Florida. Only one, however, seems to have any 
commercial importance. The one commonly known as 
"Hardy Catalpa" has of late years come into prominence, 
particularly in parts of the west and middle west, ?is sup- 
plying a most excellent material for fence posts, telegraph 
poles, and as cross ties for railroads; for the latter pur- 
pose it is said to rank equal with the very best woods. 
The planting of it for this purpose is beirig done in some 
states, on a tremendous scale, and it is said that prepara- 
tions to that end are now under way by the Louisville 
and Nashville Railway in West Florida and Southern 
Alabama. There are hundreds'of thousands of acres in this 
State, that have been denuded of the timber by the lum- 
bermen, that are perfectly adapted to the growth of this 
valuable timber, and which can be purchased at small 

17 H. F. 



258 

cost. A few years onW would be required to transform 
these, now, waste lands into timber tracts of immense 
value. The development of this industry as indicated, 
cannot be otheir than profitable in the extreme. 

WHITE OAK. 

This tree is found in considerable quantities in several 
portions of tho Slate. Its woo 1 is usei for the same pur- 
poises as the white oak of the Northern States. It is 
principally found in the counties of North, Middle and 
West Florida. The tree grows rapidly and attains quite 
a large size. 

RED OAK. 

This tree represents the principal hard wood timber 
growth, and is found in extensive areas throughout the 
State. Its use is the same as the white oak, and for a 
certain grade of manufactured material, serves the pur- 
pose admirably. 

RED BAY. 

Commonly spoken of as Florida mahogany, is very 
abundant throughout the lowlands, swamps and ham- 
mocks of the State. It is a dark, redish- colored wood, 
beautifully veined, heavy close grained, and is specially 
adapted to the finest of cabinet work. It is a remarka- 
bly hard wood, never isplits, and takes the highest polish. 

WILD CHERRY AND BLACK WALNUT. 

Are not so abundant as the foregoing, but in sufficient 
quart' ty to be valuable. The?e woor^s ,?row with great 
rapidity in Florida soil, owing to t^^e favnrnblf* oli^m+p. 
iir\(\ t^if^v c'^n b^ rjR rendilv prown as thp catalpa. Their 
economic r^es are so wf»ll known, ihnt it is use?ess to 
specify them. The cultivation of V^r-=-9 tr^^s for r-ommer- 
cial purpo'^es could be made exceedi^glv nrofltabl". 

It wo-'ild be a hun-e undprtakinjr to attioTr«T>f fo 'TrtQ"^v'b(? 
in detail the long list of tre^s or t;''oo'''s nntive to Flori'^a, 
that are now, and are capable of being utili/.pd in com- 



259 

merce and in the arts, so we append the following con- 
densed list of trees of Florida from the catalogue of Prof. 
A. H. Curtis: 



A Compkte Catalogue, with Notes on ihe Dlstfibution and 
Chafaeteristics of Each Species- 

In treating of the trefs of Florida it is essential first 
that we adopt a definition of the word tree. To do this 
we must draw a dividing line between the trees and 
shrubs, and this it is manifestly difficult to do, because of 
the insensible gradation in size between the two, and also 
because the same species often develops very differently in 
different sections. For example, the willow, in most parts 
of Florida, is only a slender shrub, yet in some localities it 
becomes a large tree, and is split into rails. Moreover, in 
our sub-tropical region, there are some plants — like the 
papaw and coral tree — which have stems from six to 
twelve inches in diameter and a height of fifteen or twen- 
ty-five feet, and yet they have little if any woody fibre. 
Manifestly the line of division between the trees and 
ahrubs must be somewhat arbitrary and dependent on in- 
dividual judgment. My experience has led me to resrard 
as trees all plants having solid woody stems as much an 
four inches in diameter, growing erect, or nearly so, and 
without support. 

Applying this standard to the plants of Florida we find 
that there are in this State fully two hundred kinds of 
trees, without counting tho«e which lack woody fibre, or 
those which, though enumerated among American trees, 
do not attain to a sufficient size in this State. This is 47 
per cent, of all the trees of the United States, and is a half 
more than can be found in any other state. This great 
diversity of forest growth is attributable mainly to the 
sub-tropical character of the southern portion of the pen- 
insula. The vegetation of the Florida Keys is idputical 
with that of the Tlpharaas and other low lands beyond 
the Gulf stream. There are to be found on the keys sev- 
enty kiiK-^s of ireep. most of which prow alspo on the south- 
ern mainlnnd, many extending northward along the coast 
as far as Capes Canaveral and Romano, some as far as 



2C0 

Mosquito Irlet aud Tampa Bay. All but two become re- 
duced to mei-e bushes at their northern Lmit; these are 
the palmetto and pitch pine, the only trees which are 
found both on the southern and northern border of the 
State. 

Our subtropical forests, in the aggregate, cover but a 
email area, and although of great interest to the student, 
they cannot be said to constitute an element of wailth. 
But if they were not included in the sylva of this State, 
Florida could still boast of a more varied forest than any 
other State. In the peninsula counties the variety is not 
great, but in the northwestern counties there may be 
found nearly all the trees of the Piedmont region of Ten- 
nessee and Virginia. The forests of the Upper Apala- 
chicola river are the finest in the State, both as to size 
and variety of timber. It is here that we find those beau- 
tiful and nearly extinct trees, the Florida yew and savin. 
In Northern aud Middle Florida' most of the trees of the 
Southern States find their southern limit, but as a rule 
ihey do not "taper out" in size; some, on the contrary, are 
unusually well developed. 

In the subjoined table I have epitomized as much as pos- 
sible of the knowledge I have acquii'ed of the sylva of this 
State. The weights are taken from Prof. C. S. Sargent's 
report on the forests of the United States, to which my 
catalogue conforms in botanical arrangement and nomen- 
clature. It has also enabled me to treat more fully of the 
uses to which our various kinds of timber can be put. 
Among so great a number there will be found some to 
subserve every purpose. We have the hardest and softest 
of woods, the heaviest and the lightest, the most durable 
and the most perishable, the most flexible and the most 
brittle, woods most easily split and others impossible to 
split. 

As the uses of the different woods cannot be represented 
in. so condensed a table, I present this most important de- 
tail in another form, not giving the uses of each tree, but 
lists of all the trees which are adapted to a particular 
purpose. From these lists, however. I shall omit about 
half of the trees included in the general catalogue, be- 
cause they are rare and little known. 

1 



2f.\ 

Fuel — Most of the pines, oaks and hickories afford ex- 
cellent fuel, also beech, sugar maxjle, magnolia, black titi, 
etc. In Southern Florida the woods most used for fuel 
are the buttonwood, Jamaica dogwood, crabwood and 
torchwood. 

Fencing — For posts or rails the following trees are pre- 
ferred : Black cypress, red cedar, juniper, yellow pine, 
post oak, chestnut oak, white oak, overcup oak, willow, 
hornbeam, chestnut, catalpa, mulberry, honey locust, 
sassafras, slippery elm, hackberry. 

Building — For general construction a large variety of 
woods may be used, but pine is found most convenient, 
economical and generally satisfactory. For all work 
which is exposed to the weather, either long-leaved yellow 
or pitch pine should be used. The latter serves almost as 
well for framing timbers, but for sills it is not so durable. 
For sheathing and inside work generally short-leaved yel- 
low and loblolly pine may be used. 

Flooring — Probably no wood is equal for this purpose 
to the long-leaved yellow pine. Where this is not obtaina- 
ble, while elm, si^ar maple, etc., may be used. 

Shingles — Cypress ranks the best, junij^er second, and 
yellow pine is largely used. 

Interior Finish — The kinds of wood best adapted to in- 
«ide ornamentation are curly pine, red bay, white and 
green ;!^^li. sugar maple, cheer, box elder, black walnut, 
white oak, juniper, magnolia and poplar. 

Cabinet-Work and Furniture — Poplar, magnolia, white 
cypress, curly pine, birch, beech, chestnut, white oak, 
black walnut, red bay, white and green a?h, sweet gum, 
cherry, red and sugar maple, holly, loblolly bay, China- 
berry, and many of the subtropical woods. For cheap 
furniture, silver maple, hackberry, sycamore, linn and 
pine are lifed. 

Cooperage — Bitter-nut hickory, white elm, mulberry, 
dogwood, sassafras, box older, cypress, juniper, and va- 
rious oaks, namely: the white, post, chestnut, scarlet, 
black and red. 

•Ship ami Boat Building — Wliite, overcup and live oak, 
yellow pine, cypress, juniper, poplar, mulberry, white elm, 
sugar maple. Of South Florida woods: .Jamaica dog- 



262 

wood, mahogany, maBtic, wild tamarind and ink-wood are 
favorite kinds. 

Wagons and Carriages — White and green ash, red and 
pig-nut hickory, poplar and linn, white, post and overcup 
oak. 

Wheel Stock — White elm, slippery elm and oaks of va- 
rious kinds; hubs being made of red elm, black gum, dog- 
wood and honey locust. 

Agricultural Implements — Red and pig-nut hickory, 
white and green ash, white, overcup and chestnut oak. 

Tool Handles and Plane Stocks^ — Hornbeam and iron- 
wocd, red and pig-nut hickory, beech, persimmon, sour- 
wood, sloe, sparkleberry. 

Ox Vokes — Black gum, sassafras, black birch, sycamore, 
titter-nut hickory. 

Saddletrees — White elm, sugar maple. 

W oo>ikiU\varc — Liuu, poplar, white bay, jiTniper, black 
birch, tupelo, tupelo gum, box elder, red maple. 

Baskets — Ked hickory, pig-nut hickory, tough white 
oak, swamp chestuul oak. 

Broom Handles — White bay, tupelo. 

Wooden Shoes — Tupelo, black birch. 

Gun Stocks — Red maple, black walnut. 

Rollers and Bearings of Machinery — Black gum, dog* 
wood, sourwood. 

Engravers' Blocks — Dogwood. 

Shoe-Lasts — Sugar maple, persimmon, beech, 

iShuttles — Persimmon. 

Levers — Hornbeam, ironwood. 

Tobacco Boxes — Sycamore. 

Paper Pulp — Cottonwood, linn, box elder. 

Floats — Tupelo. 

Oars — White and green ash. 

Pencils — Red cedar. 

Canes — Orange, crabwood, princewood, torchwood, pal- 
metto, royal palm. 

Piles — Palmetto, yellow and pitch pine, black gum, 
jnaagrove. 



2C? 

Railway Ties — Black cypress, juniper, yellow^ pine, 
chestnut, post oak, white oak, slippery elm, mulberry, 
catalpa. 

Tannipg Barks — The mangrove aflfords most tannin, 
but the kinds most used are the black and red oaks and 
the tan or loblolly bay. 

Medicinal Barks — Are afforded by the cherry, dogwood, 
white bay, willow, sassafras, Georgia bark, prickly ash, 
poplar, slippery elm, white oak, and a number of the sub- 
tropical trees. 

A CATAL'^GUE OF THE FOREST TRXES OF FLORIDA, COMPRISING 
47 PER CENT. OF ALL FOUND IN THE UNITED STATES. 

First Column — In this are given the botanical names 
adopted in the Forestry Report of the Tenth Census, and 
(in Roman type) the names of orders or families. 

Second Column — ^This contains the popular names most 
used in Florida, and figures representing the number of 
species of each order found in Florida, and in the United 
States. For example: Of the magnolia family there are 
five species in Florida and eight in the United States. 

Third Column — Here is given in inches the maximum 
diameter which each tree is known to attain in Florida, 
the measurements being made about four feet from the 
ground. 

Fourth Column — The numbers represent the weight in 
pounds of a cubic foot of kiln-dried wood, according to 
Prof. C. S. Sargent's tests. 

N indicates that the tree grows only in Northern 
Florida. 

S indicates that the tree grows only in Southern 
Florida. 

• indicates that the tree grows only on low or swampy 
ground. 



2G4 

' DIam. Wt. 

Botanical Name. Common Name. Inch. Iba. 

Magnoliaceae. 5-8 

1 — Magnolia grandiflora, L Magnolia 48 49 

2— glauca, L White Bay 24 31 • 

3 — Fraseri, Walter Cucumber Tree 8 81 K 

4 — macropnylia, Michx .... ....... Great-leaved Cucumber Tree . 4 26 

5 — Liriodendron Tuliplfera, L Poplar 84 28 

Anonaceae. 1-2 

•— Anona laurifolla. Dunal Pond Apple 12 81 S* 

Capparidaceae. 1-1 

7 — Capparis Jamaicensis, Jacq Caper 8 48 8 

Canellaceae. 1-1 

8 — Canella alba. Murray Cinnamon Bark 8 62 8 

Ternstroemiaceae. 1-2 

9 — Gordonia Lasianthus, L. Tan Bay, Loblolly Bay 22 SO • 

Tiliaceae. 2-3 

10 — Tilia pubesnens. Ait Linn, Wahoo 20 26 B 

la. — neterophylla Vent Linn, Wahoo 18 27 N 

Malphigiaceae. 1-1 

12 — Byrsonima lucida, H B K Glamberry * ....10 87 8 

Zygophyllanceae. 1-2 

13 — Gualacum sanctum, L Lignum Vltae 12 718 

Rutaceae. 4-7 
14— Xanthoxylum Clava-Herculis, L.... Prickly Ash, Sea Ash 12 82 

15 — Caribaeum. Lam Satin Wood, Yellow Wood.... 15 56 3 

16— Pterota. H B K Wild Lime 7 46 3 

17— Pteha trifoliata, L Hop Tree 4 52 N 

Sfmarubeae. 1-1 

18 — Siraaruba glauca, D. C Bitterwood. Paradise Troe....24 26 8 

Burseraceae. 2-2 

19 — Bursera gummifera .Tacq Gum Eleml, West India Birch. 28 19 3 

20 — ^Amyris maritima, Jacq Torchwood 9 65 8 

Meliaceae. 2-2 

21 — Swietenia Mahogoni, L Mahogany 36 46 8 

22 — Melia Azedrach China Berry 18 

Aurantiaceae. 1-1 

23 — Citrus vulgnris Wild Orange 10 

Olaclnae. 1-1 

24 — ^Ximenia Americana. L Purge Nut, Hojt Plum 7 67 8 

lliclne. 6-6 

25 — Ilex o'-nca. Aiton Holly 16 35 

26 — Dahoon, Walter Pro-id-lpaved Yaupon 8 33* 

17 — " var. angustfifolia Narrow -leaved Yaupon 8 N* 

28 — Cass'ne. Walter Cassina 4 43 N 

29 — decidua Walter Possum Haw 3 46 N* 

30 — luoida, Torr <fe v^ray Swamp Gall-berry 5 • 

Cvrillaceae. 2-3 

31 — Cvrilla racemiflora, L Red Titi. Leatherwood 12 42 N* 

82 — Cliftonia ligustrina. Banks Black Titl. Buckwheat Tr^;..12 89 N* 

Celastraceae. 2-3 

S3 — ^Myginda integrifolia. Lam ^alse Boxwood 6 66 3 

34 — Schaefferia frutescens, Jacq Boxwood , 7 48 8 

Rhamnaceae. 4-7 i 

35 — Reynosia latifolia, Griseb T^arling Plum, Red Ironwood.. 8 68 3 

36 — Cond^lia ferrea, Griseb Bl^ek Ironwond 20 813 

S7 — Rhamnua v-aroliniana. Walt Yellow Wood 5 34 N 

38 — Colubrina reclinata, Brongn Soldier Wood ....i.. 36 513 

Sapindanceae. 8-20 

39 — Saplnurs Saponaria. L ... False Dogwood 20 52 3 

40 — mnrginatrs. Willd .Soap Berry ... 4 51 N 

41 — ^Hypelate paniculata. Cambess T,it< Wood 18 60S 

42— trifolinta, Swartz V-Hiite Ironwood 22 57 3 

43 — Acer saccharinum. Wang Plack or Sugar Maple 15 43 B 

44 — dasycarpum Khrh White or Silver Maple .-24 33 N 

45 — rubrum. L ^ ■ <^d r>v Swamp Maple 22 39 • 

46 — Negundo acrroiri'S. Moench Box Elder 14 27 

Anacardiaceae. 2-S 

47 — ^Rhus copallina, L ..^nmac 8 83 

48 — Metopium, L Poison Wood 24 49 8 



2«5 



DIam. 

Botanical Name. Commcn Name. Inch. 

Legi:mlnosae. 7-26 

49 — Piscidia erythrlna. L. .Jamaica Dogwood 28 

60 — Gleditsohla triacaithos. L. Honey Ijocuat 12 

61 — monosperma, Walter Watjr Locust 15 

62 — Cercis Canadensis, L Red-bud 12 

63 — Acacia Farnesiana. WiUd Popinac 4 

64 — Lysiloma latisiliqua, Benth Wild Tamarind 22 

K— Pitchecoloblum Unguis-Cati, Bth...L.ong Cod 6 

Rosaceae. 17-34 

66 — Chrysobalanus Icaco, L Cocoa Plum 12 

67 — Prunus Americana, Marsh Wild Plum, feloe 11 

68 — angustifolia, Marsh Yellow or Chicasaw Plum .... 8 

69 — umbellata, L Hog Plum 10 

U — serotina, Ehrh Wild Cherry 24 

• — Caroliniana, Ait Mock Olive 12 

62 — sphaerocaroa, Sw West Indian Cherry 6 

63 — Pyrus angustifolia, Alton Crap-apple 8 

64 — Caiaegus arborescens. Ell .' Tree Thorn or Haw ...15 

65 — Orus-galli, L Chockspur Thorn 10 

66 — coccinea. L. Scarlet Thorn or Haw 6 

67 — tomentosa. Ij Black Thorn 4 

68 — apiifolla, Mx Parsley Haw 6 

69 — spathulata, Mx Hog's Haw 8 

70 — aestivalis, T. & G Summer Haw 6 

71— flava, Alton Yellow Haw 12 

72 — ^Amelanchier Canadehsis, T. & C.CuiTant Tree 11 

Hamamelaceae. 2-2 

78 — L-iquidambar styraciflua, L Sweet Gum 72 

74 — Hamamelis Virginica, L. Witch Hazel 4 

Rhizophoraceae. 4-4 

75 — Hhizophora Mangle, L Mangrove 24 

76 — Concocarpus erecta, L. Button Wood 30 

77 — LaguncuJaria racemosa, Gaertn ....False Buttonwood 22 

78 — Terminalia Burceras Hensly 12 

Myrt=ceae. 6-6 

79 — Cayptranthes Chytraculia, Sw Pimento 7 

80 — Eugenia buxifolia, Willd Oiirgeon Stopper 5 

81— Qic^otoma, D. C Naked Wood 10 

o— . monticola, D C White Stopper 5 

83 — procera, Polret Red Stopper 8 

84 — Garberi. Sargent 18 

Cornaceae. 5-7 

85 — Cornus florida, L Dogwood 10 

86 — Nyssa canitata. Wnlt^r Ogeechee Lime 30 

87 — svlvatica, Marshall Black or Sour Gum 30 

oo — aquatica, ^ Tupelo Gum 86 

89— unifiora, Wang Tupelo, Cotton Gum 42 

Caprifoli.Tceae. 3-6 

•0 — Sambucus Canariensis Elder 10 

91 — Viburnum prunifolium, L Plack Haw 6 

t2 — obovatum, Nutt Swamp Haw 6 

Rublaceae. 5-5 

93 — Exostemma Carbjaeum, R & S Prince Wood 8 

94 — Pinckneya rubers, Mx Georgia Bark, Florida Quinine 6 

*5— Genina clus'aefoHa, Griseb Feven-yepr Apple 5 

96 — Guettarda eli.ptica, Sw M-^ked Wood 8 

97 — ambigua. D C Naked Wood 4 

Ericaceae. 3-8 

*8 — ^Varciniiim arhoreum. Marshall Sparkleberry 8 

99 — Andromi^da ferruginea, Walter 8 

100 — Oxydendr'i'Ti arliorfum, D C Sour Wood 9 

Myrslnanceae. 3-3 

101 — ^Myrsine Rapanea R & S ''"alse Candle Wood 6 

101 — Ardisia Pickeringia, Nutt '>TarI Berry, Cherry S 

103 — Jacquinla ."rmiii .ris. Jacq Joe-Wood 6 

Sapotaceae. j-8 

104 — Chrysophyllum olivilorme, LAm... Satin T^eaf 12 

105 — Sideroxylon mastichodendron, J Mastic 36 



37 



34 

52 
40* 



266 

Oiam. Wt. 
Botanical Name. Commcn Name. Inch. Iba> 

106— Dipholis s<iiiCiioJia, a D C Caasada 24 68 8 

107— Bumelia tenax, WlUd Black Haw 8 4JN 

108 — lanuginoaa, Fera Black Haw 4 4i.N 

109 — lyciodes, Gaertn, F , ironwuoa, Mock Orange 10 47 

110 — cuneata, Sw Ants wood, Downward Plum .10 &0 3* 

111— MImusops fciieberl, A. D. C Wild Sapodilla, Diily 15 68 8* 

Ebenacoae 1-2 

112 — Dloapyros Virginiana, Li .Persimmon 12 4* 

Styracaceae. 3-3 

113 — Symplocos tinctoria, Lrfer Sweet Leaf, Florida Laurel... 10 3'.N 

114 — halesia uiptera, L owamp bour Wood 7 i6N 

115 — tetraptera L dnowdrop Tree i 38N 

Oleacea*. 7-15 

116 — FraxinuB Americana, L White Ash 32 41* 

117 — pubescens. Lam Red Ash isS 40N 

118 — viridis, Mx. f ^^reen or Swamp Ash 36 44 ? 

119— platycarpa, Mx vVater Ash 12 2i • 

120 — j^'orestiera acummata, Polr Swamp Privet 10 *iH* 

121 — .^hionanthus Virginica, L Old Man's Beard 6 40 

122 — Osmanthus Amencanus, B. & H... Wild Olive, Devil Wood 12 i»l 

Borragineceae. 2-4 

132 — Cordia SeOtisiuia, L Gieger Tree .12 45 3 

124 — Borreria Havanensia Miera Strong Back 10 60 8 

Bignoniaceae. z-4 

125 — Catalpa bignonioiuKS, Walter Cr^alpa or Catawoa 12 2iN* 

126 — Crescentia cucurbitina, L Cu.abash 6 38 8 

Verbenaceae. 2-2 

127 — Citharexylum viilosum. Jasq 6 54 S 

128 — Avicennia nitidia, Jacq Black Iwangrove - x §7 8* 

Nyctagmaceae. 1-1 

129 — ^Pisonia obtusaia, tov,' .Beef Wood 24 60S* 

Polygonaceae. 2-2 

130 — Coccoloba Fioridana, Meisn .Pigeon Plum 24 %1 9 

I'il — uviiera, Jacq Sea Grape 24 60 8* 

Lauraceae. 4-5 

132 — Persea Carolinensis, Nees Reu ^.ay, Sv/cet Bay ?6 40 

133 — Caroaneusis paiustriS, Oil Swamp Red Bay 12 • 

134 — Nectandra Catesbyana, Michx l^nce Wood 6 48 8 

135 — Sassafras offlcinaie, Nees Sassafras 12 3JN 

Euphorbiaceae. 4-4 

136— jurypetes crocea, Poit White Wood 6 56 3 

137 — glauca, Vahl Guiana Plum 14 58 3 

13» — Gymnanthes lucida, Swz Crab Wood 7 68 3 

io J — Hyppomane Mancinella, L Manchineel 12 87 8* 

Urticaceae. 10-14 

140^Ulmus fulva. Michx Slippery Elm 24 44N 

141— Fioridana, Chapm Florida Elm 24 N* 

142— Americana. L Vv .ute Elm, Swamp Elm 22 41 • 

143— alata, Michx Red Elm, Cork Elm 22 47N 

144— Planera aquatica, Gmelin Water Elm 12 «N* 

145 — Celtis occiden talis, L Hai^kberry, Sugarberry 24 45 • 

146— Ficus aurea, Nutt Will i*Mg, Rubber Tree 48 18 8 

147— populnea, WLld 22 40 8 

148— Morus rubra, L Mulberry 24 37 

149— Trema macrantha, B. &. H False Mulberry 8 23 B 

Plantanaceae. 1-3 

150 — Platanus occidentalis, L Sycamore. Button-bail 84 S7N* 

Juglandace. 5-11 

151— Juglana nigra. L Black Walnut 27 38M 

152 — Carya tomentosa, Nutt Red Hickory 24 51 

153— porcina, Nutt Pig-nut Hickory 68 S2 

154— amara, Nutt Sitter-nut Hickory 36 47M* 

155 — aquatica, Nutt Swamp xilckory 30 4«N» 

Myrlcaceae. 1-2 

156 — Myrlca cerifera, L Wax Myrtle 13 K* 

Cupullferae. 17-46 

157 — Quercus alba, L White Oak 8« 40 



2t7 

Olam. 

Botanical Name. Common Name. • inch. 
15&— Stellata. Wang Post Oak 24 

159 — var. parvlf oUa 12 

160 — lyrata, Walter Over-cup Oak 31 oiN* 

1«1— Mlchauxil. Nutt Swamp Chestnut Oak 60 62 • 

162— Castanea, Wiltd Upland Cheatnut OaK 12 52If 

16S— virens, Alton Live Oak 96 5» 

164— rubra. L 30 4lM 

165 — coccinea, v\''ang Scarlet Oak 27 46W 

166— tinctoria, Bartr Black or Quercitron oak...... 36 4«lf 

167— nigra, L Black-Jack, Barren Opk 20 46 

168— falcata, Mlchx Spanish Oak, Red Oak 36 4X 

169 — Catesbaci, Mlchx Black-Jack, Scrub Oak 18 46 

170 — aquatica, Walter Broad-leaved Water <^ak ....48 46* 

171 — Ip.urifoha, Mlchx Narrow-leaved Water Oak ...30 48 

172— clnerea, Mich Turkey oak, Blue- Jack 12 4(» 

173— Phellos, L Willow Oak 30 47Ii 

174— Castanea pumila Miller Chinquspin 10 37 

175 — vulgaris, var. Americana Chestnut 25 28W 

176— Fagus ferruglnea, Alton Beech *o *•*• 

17 J — Ostrya Virginica, Willd Hornbeam 12 5a 

178 — Carpinus Caro..niana, Walt Iron wood 14 4» 

Betulaceae. 3-12 

Vta — Betula niga, jl. Black Birch, River Elrch 15 861f» 

180— lenta, L. Cherry Birca 12 47M 

181 — Alnus serrulata. Wild AWer 4 Zs * 

Salicaceae. 2-25 

182 — Salix nigra, Marah, var. longlpes. ..Black Willow 24 -8* 

183 — Populus monilifera, Alton Cottonwood ^ 60 14N* 

Casuarinaceae. 1-1 
184 — Casuarlna equisetifolia, Forat Australian Pine ..., 12 67 8 

Coniferael. 13-83 

185 — Chamaecyparis thyoldes, Sph Juniper, White Cedar 24 

186 — Juniperus Virginiana, L. iven cedar 44 

187 — Taxodium distichum Richard Cypress 120 

188 — Taxus Floridana Nutt Florida Yew 6 

189— Torreya taxifolia, Arnott Savin, Stinking C jdur 18 

190— Pinus Taeda, L Loblolly or Old-field Pine 36 

191 — serotina, M:chx Pond Pine 24 

Jno~ clausa, Vasey Upland Spruce Pine 20 

}l. "}»tis, jlichx snort-leaved Yellow Fine 24 

194— glabra, W.,..er Lowland Spruce Pipe 32 

}ai~ Palustns, Miller Long-leaved i allow Pine ....72 

196 — Cubensis, Gr:seb Pitch Pine 36 

r'almaceae. 6-7 

197— Sabal Palmet.o Loddlges Palmetto, Cabbage Treo 20 

198 — Thrinax parviflora, Swartz Silver Thatch 4 

199 — argentea, Loddiges Brickly Thatch 7 

200 — excelsa, Grlseb — 

201 — Pseudophoenix Sarg jntll, Wang 9 

202 — Oreodoxa regia, H B K Royal Palm 34 



268 

INSECTS, REPTILES. ETC. 

The common belief among many apparently well in- 
formed, though somewhat prejudiced people, that Florida 
is literally alive with every form of deadly insect and 
venemous reptile, is hardly worthy of notice, except for 
the fact, that many good people ignorant of the real con- 
ditions that exist, are liable to be misled, and lacking cor- 
rect information on the subject hesitate to make their 
homes in Florida, because of their fears or misgivings 
upon the subject. As a matter of fact, Florida is not any 
more troubled with insects or reptiles, than a dozen other 
states, whether it be New England, Pennsylvania or Ohio, 
or any other section of the Union. True, we have mos- 
quitoes from the latter part of May to last of Sep- 
tember, and sandflies on the coast, but they are as noth- 
ing when compared with the same pests in some other 
communities much farther north, than the Carolinas. 
There are many localities in Florida where mosquitoes 
are never found, and where mosquito nets are never 
needed. Roaches are found in occasional localities, but 
are easily destroyed by proper and efficient remedies. 
House flies are not, in any section of the State, at any 
time, as troublesome as in most localities North. The 
reason is that during the greater part of the summer 
months, the rainy seasons prevail, and there is less waste 
matter to attract them, the waters washing it away. 

In localities v/here conditions nre favorable, snakes are 
to be found. The rattlesnake and moccasin are the only 
venomous or deadly snakes seen in Florida.. The former 
is rarely seen in the open, and it is rare that any one is 
bitten by them. The moccasin is onV found in swampy 
places or along the banks of creeks. They are timid and 
will invariably run away from intruders. There are nu- 
merous varieties of harmless snakes, but they are as sel- 
dom seen as those first njentioned. The fact of the busi- 
ness is, there are not near the number of venomous snakes 
in Florida as are found in the mountain region of the 
Middle and Northern States. "We do not deny the exist- 
ence of insects and reptiles in Florida, but we emphati- 
cally assert, without fear of successful contradiction, that 
this statement is no more true of Florida tlian other por- 
tions of the Union, and the Middle and Southern States in 



200 

particular. Tarantulas, Centipedes, and Scorpions, so 
dangerous in the West, are never seen here. Aliigatora 
are scarce, having been mostly destroyed by punters, un- 
less it be in the tar south, and they are never dangerous 
to human life unless attacked. 

To the weak hearted we therefore s^ay that the mon- 
strous stories, so vividly described, of assaults; by insects 
and reptiles upcn the persons and jib'cn'ties of the good 
people of Florida, may be justly treated as "Beautiful 
Fairy Tales," or the products of a "^lind diseased" by too 
close communion with "John Barley Corn." 



LABOR, WAGES, ETC. 

While 'the question of labor tn Florida, as elsewhere, 
is a vital one, it ditfers in many j)hases from that of other 
states, mainly because of the diversity of interests which 
exercise control over it, and give direction to its move- 
ments and operations. And to this diversity of indus- 
trial interests may be mainly attributed the freedom from 
strike disturbances, enjoyed with one or two excep- 
tions, by all classes of business in this State. These oc- 
currences being rare, except among the cigar manufactur- 
icig trade and that confined mostly to one locality. In a 
great majority of other branches of industry strikes are 
never known. There is no surplus of labor in Florida, 
nor is there a scarcity, speaking in a general sense. Of 
course there may be localities where either condition may 
exist at times temporarily, but there is in some portion ot 
the State, usually a demand for extra help that serves to 
equalize these congested conditions, and in that way labor 
is kept employed, and satisfactory conditions are the rule, 
whereas the reverse is true where labor is congested and 
idle much of the time. 

•Quality and character of laboVvaries much in Florida, 
depending greatly upon the kind of industry predominat- 
ing in each section. 

In the agricultural section, that is to say. that part of 
the State where the staple field crops, such as cotton, corn, 
oats, etc., are the Icarlinir and chief products of the soil, 
and where general farming in its broadest sense is the 



27(» 

principal occupation of the people outside of the towns 
and villages, the class of people performing the gr^at DuIk 
of manual labor is composed of negroes. Although it Is 
true that in this, as in all other sections of the State, 
there are very many white people who own and conduct 
their farms themselves without colored help. These are 
generally farmers on a moderate scale, and who are no 
less succes^-ful for being so. In fact these are the people 
who make up the bone and shiew of the land, and on whom 
larp^ely rests the responsibility for the perpetuation of 
good governnjent, as well as the future progress and pros- 
perity of the State. While, as we have stated, there is no 
scarcity of labor in this section, there is at the siame time 
no surplus. There is no marked lack of labor to care for 
the crops that are being produced from year to year, but 
there are lying idle thousoTids of acres of equally fine 
tillable lond, thoronijhly adapted to all farm purposes, 
that could be profitably utilized if there was sufficient 
labor to operate thera. In this respej't, and to this ex- 
tent, the supply of labor i=i short of the country's needs 
and thus prevents the possibility of any rapid increase in 
favm productions. This statettK^nt will also apply with- 
equal force to all sections of the State. The real effect 
is therefore to retard farm development. 

Wages of general farm laboi* varies considerably, 4e- 
pending upon whether it is day labor, or monthly or an- 
nual contracts. Also the women, who perform a very con- 
siderable portion of the field work, are to be considered. 

The adult male who ranks as the best field hand, usually 
receives for day labor 75c to one dollar per day and found; 
the ordinary hand gets from fifty cents to seventy-five 
cents per day and found, and the women get from thirty 
to forty cents per day and found. Where the laborer 
feeds himself or herself there is a difference of ten to fif- 
teen per cent, additional. By the month or year, the 
wap-es paid run from six dollars to ten dollars per month, 
and m exceptional crses twelve to fifteen dollars per 
month, includinf! bonrH. 

In nnub of the jre?iernl farming sections, a system of 
ten/^i^trv obtplTH! to n pvpnt d<»fTve<^. T"^nder this plan, 
land, v;ith dwellintr house and other necessary improve- 
ments are ind^dnd in the ^^]ct rented, usually forty to 
eighty acres each, sometimes more, as the case may be. 



271 

The rent for the laud is usnnlly paid in a fixed quantity of 
cotton, or other farm prodnct. ns may be agreed u]ion in 
the contract, delivered at a ]»oint also understood and 
ajfreed upon. ►Sometimes ownei*s rent their farms, or a 
portion of them, on shares, mc« ified or enlarged as to 
terms to p'lit the occasion and conditions. In the wes- 
tern section of the State the laroier portion of the farm- 
• irg population is wh'te, and comiiarafively few nei^oes 
are employed as farm heh). The'^e farmers do their own 
work, a^d almost without ex( option are a thrifty and 
pronperous, self-sustaining people. The same conditions 
exist in a larj?e scope of country in Eastern Florida, 
thonch there are more repro laboT'crs there than in the 
western section just mentioned. The wages for farm 
work in (hese se(tions are also about as above stated. 

In the ear\y vegetable and fruit jTrowiug sections of the 
Rtntr th"^ lal^or is more nearly divided as between the 
whites and the negroes. In the more nortlierly ])ortion 
of the fruit and vo.<?ptable section, negro labor predomi- 
rates. but the further we go south the fewer negroes we 
pee, till the white labor is almost entirely substituted 
therefor. The pame conditions o'^tnin with labor in this 
section as elsewhere, already noted, there being neither an 
unwieldlv surplus or such a degree of shortness of labor 
a« to cau^e material los«, thorgh there are times when 
lack of labor is keenly felt, but these are short, transitory 
perioc's with Irng interval'a. The labor is in a sreneral 
pense sufficient to care for the cro^xs in the quantities in 
whirh thev nre row planter!, but if it should be desirable 
to plpnt a^d irpow veo-f^tabies and fruits on a lariTcly ex- 
inr^f^o^ scale then the supply of labor would be wholly in- 
adenuate. 

There ar^ millions of acres of ln»id u^surnnssed for veg- 
e*nbio n^fi fn-iit p-^'owiT'cr yet unoceuiiied in the section re- 
fer^ef? to. ,"nd H is nuite rcns^nnblp to suppose that the 
PT"nt -■mr»ul''e ^i^en to t'l^'^e industricR in recent years 
xxr^}} rrow rnr^i'^'lv. in whirh cape Vhor will be in ffrenter 

f'r«v>OT<'1 • rk»-pTi ■»->r>'^'- i'lorin ^p o1>-i-iT>^''j|r<f vAOni JTi nH "''^"tfonS 

of t^-f> '^tf+p f'^'" mh ^f^rm ^r-brp OR Tiro )i'>ve r^fo^red to. 

V'nrrr^a ip *h'r> c— ^ff^r, pf ^ >,p ^ffx^-n ]^^':'f fOUSldered V^U 

p-T-fvTv ^o r"~TioT»nl n/v..i«,-]f.,,.,x V COO'' li"r>'' hv *}-\n <1nv 

earns from ore f'oll.'^T to a dollar and a half and board 



272 

in the busy season, and that is th& period between the veg- 
etable and the fruit crops, which include about seven 
months of the year. Monthly or annual contracts are at 
a less rate of course, but the hire of farm, labor in thisi sec- 
tion is mostiy by the day. 

Expert labor, such as is employed in the trades, mills, 
factories, vegetable and fruit packing establishments, 
and export mechanical v:ovk of all kinds, is always in de- ' 
mand, and commands good wages. The comj^ensatlon in 
these lines of work ranging from two dollars to four 
dollars })er day, and in some special lin^s still more. 
This class of labor is of course necessarily mostly engaged 
in or near the cities and towns, Avhere the industries de- 
manding their services are generally located, on account 
of convenient transportation facilities, markets for pro- 
ducts, and other advantages. Among this class of labor 
there is rarely a surplus, while thei'o is often an incon- 
venient scarcity. The demand for this, as for all other 
classes of labor continually grows, and for the sober, in- 
dustrious, capable man. equipped for any of these. occu- 
pation®, there is generally a position open to him. 

Domestic labor, or household help is quite as diversi- 
fied as to quality, supply and reliability as any of the fore- 
going classes. In some portions of the State there is 
never enough to fill the wants and needs of families, and 
boarding houses, and even the best hotels are at times 
greatly inconvenienced for lack of it. Negroes comprise 
the larger part of this class of labor, except in the south- 
erly portions of Eastern and Southern Florida. Some 
localities are never fully supplied with this charncter of 
help, and many people are compelled to do their own 
housework. Probably the principal reason for this situa- 
tion is to be attributed more to the unreliability of this 
class of labor, and the desire of the women, who make up 
the larger pnrt of this class, to take the world easy. There 
are therefore, many opportunities here for securing posi- 
tions in this line of work, by intelligent and industrious 
people of both sexes, of srood character and habits. 

Wages for this class of work rarige from about five dol- 
lars to ten dollars per month, which includes the several 
branches of household duties. In the larger cities and 
towns, wages for this kind of work are sometimes more 
than above stated, and in cases where exceptional quality 



273 ' 

or quantity of work is required employes sometimes re- 
ceive double the figures named, but all of these matters 
are regulated by agreement. The following figures from 
the U. S. Census of 1900 may be of interest, as indicating 
the opportunities within reach of those who desire to en- 
gage in farming or any of the branches of agriculture : 

In 1900 the total number of acres in farms in Florida, 
was 4,363,891. Of this number, there were in improved 
farms under cultivation 1,511,653 acres, leaving 2,852,238 
acres not in cultivation, and classed as not improved 
mainly because they were lying out, and without build- 
ings, etc. And the principal reason for this condition is, 
that there is not labor to operate them. Here are oppor- 
tunities for farmers and farm laborers to secure homes 
and a competence at the minimum cost, or a good living, 
by the work of his hands. The total number of farms in 
Florida is 40,814, and the average size of a farm is a little 
over 106 acres each, though there are farms ranging in 
size from 20 acres to several thousand. 

The number of persons engaged in operating these 
farms are: Males, 75,608, and of females 13,080, and 
there are opportunities for twice that number, with 
equal or better advantages than were offered those, who 
first came here and made their settlements and perma- 
nent homes, as the above statements and figures amply 
demonstrate. 

In the 2056 factories of all kind®, there are employed 
34,230 more or less expert and skilled laborers ; 3,572 of 
this number being females; and as the mills, factories and 
other new enterprises are continually advancing their 
business, the demand for expert and skilled labor con- 
tinually increases. 

The number of those employed as household or domes- 
tic help is; males, 32,413, and females, 17,919. As before 
mentioned, there is a constant and increasing demand for 
this class of labor. The wages are good, and efficient and 
reliable men and women will have small difficulty in se- 
curing employment. 

The question of the cost of living is one which enters 
largely into this subject, and justly exercises an impor- 
tant influence in deciding the advisability of a move by 

18 H. F. 



274 

those contemplating a change of residence; whether it be 
a man who earns his living as a day laborer, or the man 
with means, not to say capitalist, the item of living ex- 
penses is alwa3's to be considered. In this respect, as in 
all others, Florida is the equal in most things and su- 
perior to any other section of the United States, in the 
vast majorit}' of the essential elements necessary to com- 
fort, health and economy in home building, and the work 
of maintaining it. 

The climate, indirectly of course, has much to do with 
this question. The clothing necessary to keep the body 
in a comfortable condition in winter does not have to be 
of heavy and costly woolens ; nor in the abundance re- 
quired in more northerly latitudes, where winter lingers 
for eight to nine months of the year. In this item a fam- 
ily from Ohio, Wisconsin or New York would be able in 
Florida to save and live with more comfort at least on one 
half of that required at home, for there are hardly more 
than fifteen days in an entire winter when a healthy man 
need wear an overcoat, even in the most northerly and 
western part of the State, and that not a heavy one either, 
while in the southeastern, central and southern portion 
of the State even a light overcoat is rarely necessary, and 
ordirary spring clothes as worn north would be consid- 
ered quite sufficient for mid-winter, under the average 
conditions. Another item of equal importance. i<? the 
fuel supply, which by comparison with the needs in the 
northern sections of country referred to, is rediculously 
small; one-third of the cost necessary in the North would 
be an exorbitant sum here on an average. 

In Florida the length of time in which fires are re- 
quired never exceeds four month?, even tben rot all of the 
time, and that in the colder sect'on of the State. While 
in the eastern and southern parts of the State the time is 
still less, growing shorter as we go further south. Neither 
is the cost of fuel near so great as in the North, unless 
coal is used, which is never done outsif'e of the larger 
cities and towns, and in not a ?rent many of them. Wood 
is almo«'t uTiive"^ally used and it is ol^^ntifvl and cheap; 
and with the avprage fanner, prn^^if^ally does not fl'rm'e 
in the cost of living' as no farm in this country is without 
its woodland. In effect th<»n. this if'^m to tho fprmT is. ex- 
cept for the labor of cutting and hauling home, is one of 



275 

clear gain. And to the city or town resident, it means a 
saving of 60 to 75 per cent, of the cost of like fuel mate- 
rial in the North. 

Another distinctive advantage the farmers and all 
others who labor out of doors have in Florida is, that in 
uo section of the State is it ever too cold to work in the 
open, any day of the year; this enables the farmer or 
gardener to grow something for his table at all seasons, 
and thns also reduce his household ex})enses, in a way 
impossible in any other section of country, particularly 
North. The cost of the staple articles of food, such as 
are sold in the grocery stoi'es everywhere, is about the 
same as at the North, but the farmer who makes his own 
meat and bread, and conducts his farm on business princi- 
ples, will have small need to patronize the grocery stores 
to any great exiopt. 

To those who labor in the mills, factories or in the 
trades, the cost of living is necessarily greater, as they 
are in no wise producers of food supplies, but wholly con- 
sumers. Except in this respect they share all the other 
advantages enjoyed by the farmer, unless it be that of 
house rent. The farmer gets his house with his farm if 
lie owns it, or if he rents; the artizan, or the common 
laborer, must own, or rent his dwelling from another, or 
board, which, if a man of family, is usually incompatia- 
ble with his income. The price of rents vary somewhat 
in the different sections and towns of the State, but small 
though comfortable houses can be had from ten to fifteea 
dollars per month, sometimes less, and from that up to 
twenty-five dollars, or more, depending upon the needs or 
the ability of the person to pay. 

Good, comfortable cottages or dwelling houses can be 
built in most parts of the State at from five hundred to 
fifteen hundred dollars ench. depending of course upon the 
size wanted, and the quality of the workmanchip expended 
on it. In the more southerlv portions of the State, qnite 
com.fortnble dwellings mn be built for very murh le>ss 
th.?^ tbf-se fignrrs. ■RniJdinTs in thp North nflTording the 
same dPi?ree of comfort, would cost fifty to sixty per cent. 
!norf» morev. 

The forporoirg reprefents vory closely, the labor eondi- 
tfons as thev nre at nrescnt tbro'iahout fh«» Stnto. Att^ if 
the continued employment of labor at fair wages is indi- 



27C 

cative of prosperity and consequent happiness and con- 
tentment, then k is no exageration to say, that the people 
of all classes in all sections of the State are indeed in 
the enjoyment of a degree of prosperity hitherto un- 
known ; nor is it in the least beyond the bounds of truth 
to say that, divided among the varios avocations we have 
named, and others, there is room, and a demand, for at 
least double the number of laborers now employed. The 
relationship between labor and capital, employer and em- 
ployed, in all occupations, have always been and are now 
of the most amicable nature, whether it be with white or 
black. The only serious ditferences that ever occur are 
with the tobaccoc dealers and manufacturers in one or two 
cities, where the employes, v/ho are almost entirely com- 
posed of foreigners, have occasional disagreements; it is 
probably second nature with the race; but beyond this no 
difficulties occur, worthy of discussion here. 

As a rule labor of all kinds is fairly efficient In its sev- 
eral lines, probably quite as much so, as in other sections 
of the country. That there is great room for improve- 
ment, admits of no question, and just here, opportunities 
without number offer themselves to the careful pains-tak- 
ing and industrious men and women of correct character 
and habits. 



SOCIAL CONDITIONS. 

The social conditions in a general way, which must be 
met with by all new comers to any country, is of consid- 
erable moment, specially to the female portion of the 
family. There is in the human heart, a chord of sim- 
pathy, which under certain conditions is said to "Make 
the whole world kin," and there is no condition that 
serves to awaken the feelings of sympathy in others, as 
the observation of distress and loneliness, which needs 
only kind words and actions to replace with the smiles 
of joy and content. The people of Florida are no excep- 
tion to the rule, the glad hand of welcome or assistance 
is ever extended to the deserving, whether rich or poor. 
There is no bar here to man's associations save that which 
he himself erects; there is no social dead line, but he must 



277 

show merit for the position he would choose; it is entirely 
with the individual as to what company he shall keep, or 
what associations he forms, and the social sphere in which 
he shall move ; he must be the architect of his own moral 
and social standing, even as he must be the "architect of 
his own fortune." 

Social equality between the races is not tolerated, and 
is impossible; miscegnation is prohibited by law, and the 
gulf that marks the social boundary between the white 
race and the black, is as broad as the universe, and as 
fathomless as the infinitudes of space. Yet, the relation- 
ship between the races is of the most kindly and friendly 
order. 



CONCLUSION- 

In making the assertion that there is no section of this 
country with resources so varied, none presenting such a 
field for new and ])romising enterprises, none that offers 
to the i-ich and tli(^ jtoor alike the t-^ifts of nature in such 
lavish form, as P'lorida, it is because we have based that 
assertion uj.on firmly established facts. 

We have stated that Florida is the healthiest State 
within the boundary of the United States, and we have 
shown Avby it is so; we have asserted that the climate of 
Floirida is unsurpassed by that of any country on this 
globe, and we have given the scientific reasons for saying 
it. We have described the character of our soils, and 
given- tbe reason of their fei-tility, and their peculiar fea- 
tures which make them lasting and valuable over all 
others; we have offered a list of the products of these 
soils and shown their adaptability to the conditions, and 
their value from a pecuniary standpoint; and in the tim- 
ber resoni'ces of the State, we have shown tliat our State 
stands without a peer on this continent in the value and 
varieties of timber for economic purpose. We have 
shown the almost unlimited possibilities of Florida in an 
agricultural sense, and the ojten road to wealth that lies 
before llie industrious farmer and live stock "rower, jjnd 
we have submitted the proofs. We have shown in a 
manner that leaves no room for doubt of the wonderful 



278 

future that lies before our State iu a commercial respect, 
and that with a hundred million dollars a year in exports 
now going out of our ports, the volume of our commerce 
will pass comprehension, when the great Isthmian water- 
way shall have been completed. We have shown in con- 
nection with this commerce, the unequaled inducements 
and opportunities for the establishment and successful 
operation of countless manufacturing industries, and we 
have also shown that Florida is a land where all who 
are energetic and honest, can make life a success. Where 
land is cheap by comparison, taxes low, and transporta- 
tion facilities are cflficient, abundant and convenient to all 
sections of the country. There are no laws that favor 
one class or race of men more than another; all are recog- 
nized as equals before the law; the State government is 
Justly and wisely administered, and life and property are 
as safe here as in any Northern State. 

It is the enjoyment of the many advantages enumera- 
ted, as well as the advancement and up-building of the 
State, that Florida invites good people from other sec- 
tions of our country, and from foreign lands to make their 
homes within her borders. The foreigner with a record 
for good health, character, and a moderate sum of money, 
sufificent at least to support him till work can be ob- 
tained, will be welcome, and will meet with encourage- 
ment, and if he i.^ worthy, success will reward him. To 
the man from Now England who would avoid the bitter 
Northeastern winds, the disease laden fogs from the banks 
of New Foundlaitd, and the hopeless prospects for more 
than a bare existence by farming the old barren wastes 
and hills; the man from the great west whose anxious 
thoughts hover between the i)rospect8 of ruin by forest and 
prairie fires, and the Dakota blizzards, who dreads, yet 
wishes for the drought of summer, the season of torna- 
does, and who must face without the hope of escape the 
weariness and idleness of a nine months relentless win- 
ter; the business man from the city or the villages, who 
wants a fair field, where his restricted capital and per- 
sonal industry will not be forced into mericless competi- 
tion with, and be weighted down by the immense re- 
sources of soulless trusts and syndicates of combined cap- 
ital ; all are assured that superior advantages await them 
here. According to trustworthy reports, official and un- 



279 

official, there are thousands of farmers and others in the 
greatly overcrowded rural districts of the Northern, Wes- 
tern, and Middle States, where the value of lands have 
advanced beyond the reach of ordinary means, who de- 
sire to change their residence from the scenes of an un- 
ceasing struggle for subsistence, to a country where the 
comfortiS of life {\re attainable with less risk of health 
and strenuous physical exertion. 

To such people, the rich and fertile lands of Florida 
offer the long desired opportunity. These are the people 
to succeed ; accustomed to the problems of soil work, they 
are the men who can utilize the forces of nature and make 
them yield obedience to their will. Men possessed of will- 
ing hands, resoluie hearts and level heads, and to such a 
class no finer field than Florida was ever presented for 
occupancy. It is a field boundless with the best elements 
of wealth and substantial enjoyment. It has an endless 
quantity of raw material of every sort, and rich produc- 
tive soil, upon which all the fruits, all the crops, and all 
the animals necessary for man's subsistence, comfort and 
convenience can be cultivated and propogated ; and withal 
a climate that brings to the palid cheek the glow of 
health, to the listless eye *the sparkle of a new life, 
transforms the careworn frame to one of reanimated na- 
ture, brings rest to the wearied mind, and takes from the 
memory of adversity the sting of distress. 



County Map ot the State of Florida. 

Showincr TvO^fition of Counties. 




PART III. 

Description of Counties. 



The following descriptions of counties have for the 
larger part been prepared either by the Boards of 
County Commissioners of the several counties, or by some 
one appointed or authorized by them to do so. In quite 
a number of cases — nearly half — we have been unable to 
get such articles prepared either by the County Boards, or 
by any citizen of the county; consequently we have been 
compelled to prepare only brief articles on these counties 
from such material as the office had in hand. 

Those counties who were repeatedly requested to furn- 
ish articles descriptive of their possibilities, resources 
and advantages, and who either declined or paid no atten- 
tion to the requests therefor, should not feel agT-ieved if 
what Is said of them should not be exactly as they would 
have liked it, or would have said it, had they themselves 
prepared it. 

The figures representing population, square fiiiles, etc., 
are from the last United States Census. The school sta- 
tistics from State Superintendent's report for 1002, and 
the products mentioned at end of each article, are from 
the State statistical reports for 1002, which have been 
certified to by the Boards of County Commissioners of the 
several counties as being cori*ect. The descriptions which 
follow being largely fi».)m the same source, may also bo 
considered correct, as they are also interesting. 



282 

ALACHUA COUNTY. 

Alachua, one of the largest counties in the State, lies 
just south of the 30th degree of north latitude, and be- 
tween the 82nd and 83rd detgree of longitude west from 
Greenwich ; it is bounded on the north by Suwannee, Co- 
lumbia and Bradford counties; east by the counties of 
Clay and Putnam; south by Marion and Levy; and west 
by Lafayette, from which it is separated by the Suwannee 
river. Its area is 1,283 square miles, or 851,120 acres. 
The population is 32,245 as compared with 22,934 in 
1890. 

It is 250 feet above the ocean's level, and far enough 
south to be free from the ice, snow and chilling winds of 
the north, and is fanned by the gentle breezes from the 
Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, the distance to 
either being about 45 miles. For natural beauties, fer- 
tility of soil, perfect drainage, a light, dry and invigor- 
ating atmosphere, good water, good society and educa- 
tional advantages, the county is not excelled by any por- 
tion of the State, and the healthfulness of the county is 
not excelled by any portion of the United States. Phy- 
sicians all testify that any disease in Florida is less lia- 
ble to terminate in death than the same in higher lati- 
tudes. For a territory so large, the average annual death 
rate is exceedingly small, being only 11 per 1,000. The 
pine lands, which are unusually healthy, are nearly every- 
where studded at intervals of a few miles with rich ham 
mocks carrying in extent from twenty to forty thousand 
acres. Unlike the hammocks of other sections of tho 
State, no marshy or flat lands are lound, the absence of 
which make them healthy and habitable. 

There are in Alachua county, like all places of mixed 
peoi)le, representatives of nearly every sect in the Chris- 
tian religion, and in the largest places a goodly sprinkling 
of Jews. The churches are principally Baptists, Meth- 
odist, Presbyterian and Episcopal, all of which are well 
supported. The white people represent every state in 
the Union, from Maine to California, and are, in their 
moral and intellectual status, of advanced classes of tho 
old States. Intelligence predominates in all the ave- 
nues of business and principal occupations of life. There 
is no ostracism of settlers from other places and all 



283 

worthy comers are heartily welcomed, and meet with well 
wishes on every hand. 

The assessed valuation of property in Alachua is |3,- 
856,938, which represents about one-third of its value. 
The tax rate for all purposes is 14^ mills. The county is 
out of debt, with funds on deposit. This is due entirely 
to the economy and care that have characterized the ex- 
penditure of funds by the county commissioners. At 
Gainesville, the county seat, is the court house, one of 
the most imposing structure in the State. It was erect- 
ed in 1885 and is fitted with all modern conveniencies. 
Cost $00,000. Those who contemplate removing to this 
county will not have to assist in the payment of a county 
debt, but will be called upon only for their pro rata share 
necessary to the maintenance of county and State. 

It is confidently believed that no county in the State, 
nor elsewhere, can boast of a greater variety of products 
than Alachua. WheaJ: is the only cereal that cannot be 
abundantly produced. Cotton, tobacco, sugar cane, veg- 
etables, grain and fruits can be raised in the greatest pro- 
fusion. So can stock of all kinds be reared in great num- 
bers. While Alachua is far ahead of any other county in 
the State in truck farming and fruit culture, general agri- 
cultural statistics on record in the office of the Secretary 
of Agriculture show that she also ranks first in general 
farming. This is due altogether to the thrift, enterprisf 
and persistency of her farmers, which is responsible for 
their success; this county has within her borders vaat 
tracts of lands which' can be cultivated with profit by 
any intelligput farmer. 

Not only is nearly every acre adapted to the cultiva- 
tion of general farm products, but the remarkable fertil- 
ity of the soil has made possible many great successes in 
fanning. Corn for meal and hominy, oats, rye, rice, syrup, 
tobacco and i)otatoes can be produced in larger quanti- 
ties on any good land, than may be required for home 
use, and the excess can be readily sold for good prices. 
Fmm this revenue the farmer can 8ui)ply himself and 
family with flour, coffee and many luxuries of life. Pea- 
nuts, pumpkins, chufas, potatoes, etc., all easily raised, 
wjil fatten hogs necessary for meat or to sell. 



284 

Corn ot) ordinary land yields from ten to twenty 
bnshels to the acre, and on good hammock land froni 
thirfy to sixty. 

Rye and oats average from twenty to fifty bushels to 
the acre. 

llu'^ is raised principally for domestic use and yields 
from twenty to thirty bushels per acre. 

The average yield of sweet potatoes is 100 to 200 bush- 
els', and peanuts twenty-five bushels per acre. 

Cassava of the very best quality, arrow-root, castor 
beans, grasses, millet, fiber i)lants, etc., are grown and 
assist materially in the reduction of farm expenses. 

The advantages this county otYers to those who prefer 
Iho general farm life to truck growing or raising an or- 
ange grove, orchard or vineyard, arc excelled by no part 
of the United States. Any farmer in this county can 
in.'ike his occupation self sustaining and independent of 
the fatal system of credit, and the county challenges the 
fc>lj;te as to the prosperous condition of her farmers. 

Alachua is one of the largest sugar cane producing 
counties of the State, and there are within her borders 
thousands of acres admirably adapted to its culture, 
awaiting development. 

Jso industry in the State oHTeres greater inducements 
for «-aj)'iul and labor than the growing of early vegetables 
for the Northern and Western markets, and no section of 
the State t»fPers greater natural advantages for early veg- 
etable growing as in the county of Alachua. Nor is there 
a county in the State so extensively engaged in the bus- 
iness. Here are located the most extensive vegetable 
fields in the South, and this may ]>roperly be 
dominated a "Ca:'den County." Truck farming is an in- 
dustry that has grown to wonderful proportions within 
a few years, ]ja\ing large ])rofits of several hundred dol- 
laTs an acre. The vegetables which can most profitably 
be grown are: Artichokes, beans, beets, cabbage, carrots. 
eauHfiower, relery, cucunUiers, egg-plants, Irish potatoes, 
lettuce, mustard, okra, onions, parsnips, ])eas, pumpkins, 
radishes, squavshcs, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and tur- 
nips, cain.\louj>cs and watermelons. 

Fruits of the following varieties are grown : JJerries 
of all varieties, figs, grapes, oranges, peal's, peaches, per- 



285 

siinmous, plums, pineapples, quinces and citrus fruitH 
of difl'erent varieties. 

Strawberries are raised in large quantities, and are a 
sure and good crop, netting most growers from 20 to 40 
cents per quart, and are shipped to northern markets in 
refrigerator boxes or cars. 

There are several varieties of grapes that thrive, of 
which the Scuppernong is the most hardy and yields the 
best returns. 

In Alachua county, are many of the finest orari^^e groves 
and fortunes have been made and are being made by the 
industrious horticulturist. 

Watermelons and cantaloupes are extensively planted 
and are a source of great profit to those who study their 
culture. Ilundretls of cars are shipped out of this county 
during the season, bringing a return of many thousands 
of dollars. 

Peaches do well with proper care, and considerable 
revenue is derived from the shipment of the early crops 
to northern markets. Many varieties are grown and 
ripen early enough to be placed on the New York market 
in May. 

One of the greatest and most profitable industries 
in the State today, is the mining and shipping of phos- 
phate. This is an industry that in recent years has as- 
sumed mammoth proportions. In Alachua county are 
the most extensive deposits in America. 

Statistical reports of phosphate shipped out of the 
State show that this county has, during the past three 
years, shipped nearly one-half of the entire output. 

Nature has covered thousands of acres in Alachua 
county with a groAvth of timber rarely seen. Hickory 
trees from one to seven feet in diameter; oak two to four; 
ash one to three; magnolia one to five, and a multitude 
of other varieties of hardwood trees, suggest the charac- 
ter of forestry. The accessibility and character of the 
timber makes this section peculiarly desirable for the 
location of factories requiring hard wood, and no section 
of the State affords better inducements than this for the 
manufacture of wagons, carriages, baskets, and wooden- 
ware, furniture, agricultural implements, etc., because 
the woods with which to make them are convenient, cheap 
and easy of transportation. 



286 

The supply of Florida pine is abundant, and many 
mills are being successfully operated along the lines of 
railroads ])assing through the county. The product of 
these mills is principally for export, but building mate- 
rial is of a necessity very cheap. 

The manufacture of naval stores from the Florida pine 
has recently come into prominence in the State. 

Since the pine forests of the Carolinas beiran to de- 
teriorate and business in those States wane, many large 
operators have sought Ahichua county's magniiicent tim- 
bered tracts and begun manufacturing on large scales. 

Stock raisirg is one of the most profitable pursuits 
incident to a farm life, and occupies the time of many. 
The beef cattle of this county have always commanded 
the very highest prices in the State markets. 

Many farmers are breeding standard stock. The cheap- 
ness of corn, oats, and hay, together with the prairie 
pji.srnres, and the climate produces excellent animals. 

Sheep do well on grases. Climatic conditions are so 
favorable to this animal that shelter is nonessential. The 
>«(i"ii does not produce any of the dreaded ''loco" weed of 
the southwest and west. 

Jn addition to the prairie grasses there are a number 
*f perennial grasses forming a close, heavy sod, which 
bt-ars treading and constitutes a permanent pasturage for 
Block. 

Th'^re are four annual grasses — crab, crowfoot, barn 
and water, which furnish principal hay supplies. These 
grasses abundantly seed themeslves, coming up when 
the land surfaces are stirred, from February to October. 

General farming in this county is as extensive as it 
is succfsful. In some sections of the county the acreage 
of corn, cotton, and other crops this year have been 
larger than ever known before, and there will be a corre- 
sponding increase next year. In the northern part of the 
county the acrenge of cotton this year has been great, 
and by the improved metho(^s which have been employed 
the farmer hns found th^t cotton can be grown to a profit. 
It is the same with coru. This fall the farmer in that 
part of the county will be well provided for. He will 
re^'pive ve!)dy money for his cotton, while the other pro- 
dvri^ of his fprm ai'e sufficient to carry him through 
another year. In other parts of the county the farmer 



287 

has not been quite as successful, but there are few who 
have not provided themselves for the coining year as a 
result of tilling the soil. The condition of the farmer of 
Alachua county demonstrates with what success agricul- 
ture can be followed in this county, when the proper 
methods are employed and the proper efforts are put 
forth. 

One of the greatest industries in Flori^la is the grow- 
ing of vegetables for the northern markets. This indus- 
try has been making rapid advancement throughout the 
State for tlie ])ast twenty years, but in no county is it 
as extensive and successful as it is in Alachua. The 
truck farmers of Alachua have been studying the great 
industry with care, and have invested thousands of dol- 
lars in providing facilities for producing truck for the 
northern market during the winter and spring. A great 
many farmers of this section are provided with canvass 
cover, irrigating plants and other advantages, and every 
year witnesses an increase of the wealth in this great 
industry. 

A few years ago trucking in this county was c<||ifined 
to what is known as the Rocky Point and North Gaines- 
ville sections, but of late years the industry has made a 
remarkable growth, and has extended to nearly every part 
of the county. The Micanopy, Tacoma, Kirkwood, Island 
Grove and other sections are extensively engaged in grow- 
ing vegetables, and the re^^orts to the effect that the acre- 
age in some of thee localities will be almost double. As 
a rule those who engage in truck farming are su'^cessful. 

While the industry is being extensively carried on at 
present, it will continue to grow in xMnchua county. There 
are yet thousands of acr^s of the best hammock land 
which are not cleared and which will make extensive 
truck farms in the n°nr future. There are pos'^ibilities in 
this industry the sTie as in the many other natural 
branches, for industry wMl remain undpr«]oned in Flor- 
ida. Thos<» who are searching for locations for homes in 
this ^tpte should give the truck farming industry a care- 
ful, study. 

Alachna county h'^s be'^ter schools than any othf»r conn- 
\y m t^e State. Tliis fact has been recognized bofore 'ast 
fall, when the co^ntv carri'^'^ away nearlv all the p^ires 
offered for educational exhibits at the State Fair. There 



288 

Las l)ceii a remarkable development in this branch of 
government during the past ten years. 

This county has the best buildings of any county in 
Florida i'or sihool purposes. The Gainesville Public 
School building is the best puT)iic school building in 
Florida, and in addition to this there are handsome and 
costly structures in all parts of the county. 

Number of children in county of school age, lO.lMM). 

Number of children in counrv enrolled in the schools 
7,000. 

Number of schools in county 120 — white, 73; negro, 
47. 

Number of brick structures. 4 — Gainesville, ilicanopy, 
Alachua and High t^prings. They average in cost fnmi 
So.OUO to .^30,000. All the above buildings are owned by 
the r.oard of Public Instruction, and except the brick 
buildings already mentioned are good frame structures. 
The white buildings have an average value of $850.00. the 
colored, ^3-50. Nearly all of them are supplied with first 
class Datent furniture of the most modern make. 

Total vaule of buildings 825,000. Total value of furni- 
ture 115.000. 

►Salaries paid teachers, 810.000. Length of term of 
school from six to eight months. Teachers emploved, 
100. Does not include E. F. S. 

In addition to the public schools, there is located in 
Gainesville that famous ^tate institution. East Florida 
Seminary. This school has an excellent corps of instruc- 
tors, and the attendance is larger than it has been for 
years. Every branch of this great school is thorough, 
and its work has ever been successful. This great school 
olfers an excellent opportimity for a higher education. 
Alachua county has just cause to feel proud of her edu- 
cational advantages, which slie oft'ers to the homeseeker. 

In Alachua county there is a strong religious senti- 
ment, with every denomination well represented. As 
a rule her population devotes a great deal of care to 
churches and church societies, and every little section of 
the county is blessed with churches. 

At all towns, such as ^Nlicanopy, Rochelle. Island 
Grove, Ilawthorn, Waldo, Campville. T>aCrosse, Alachua, 
High Springs, Newberry and Archer there are several 



2S9 

good and substantial churc h edifices and there are regular 
services at one of these houses of worship every Sunday 
in the north. 

The leading people of every community are the leaders 
in < hnrch matters to the pame extent that they lead in 
bn:-ircss and po]iti(al affair-H. There is always an active 
intcrcpt in rliunh work, and as a result of this, a con- 
BtfiTit increase in the valuation of church property. Thew 
i»re at present several church buildings under contempla- 
tion, and which are to be erected in the near future. 

The manufac ture of baskets and crates for the ship 
ment of vegetables to the northern markets is one of the 
great industries which is j^ractically new in this county, 
and which is being carried on more extensively in 
Alachua county than it is in any other part of the State. 
There are two large veneering mills in the county, and 
both of them give employment to a large force of men. 

While at Campville there is located probably the best 
paying brick j-ard in the State. 

Ahuhua county is favored with unsurpassed transpor- 
tation facilities. Every section of the county has rail- 
road facilities, and the farmer, lumberman, phosphate 
miner and manufacturer of naval stores experiences no 
trouble on this line. There are four railroad systems 
operating in this cour.'-y, the Seaboard Air Line, At- 
Ijintic Coast Line, Gainesville and Gulf, and Jackson- 
ville and Southwestern. These roads give the county 
facilities which are not enjoyed by any other county in 
the State. 

The soil throughout the entire county is especially 
adopted to the cultivation of Sea Island Cotton, produc- 
ing a staple that will grade fully equal to that of South 
Carolina, which is acknowledged to be the home of the 
cotton plant, when proper cnre is taken in the selection 
of seed and cultivation. This fact is being realized to 
a certain extent abroad, and as a result Messrs. R. F. 
Dutton & Co., of Gainesville, shij) large quantities of 
Alachua seed into other portions of the State and lower 
Georgia. At the Paris Exposition, Messrs. Dutton & Co. 
exhibited cotton raised in this county that was awarded 
a gold medal for the "Highest Award Merit." as to the 
length, strength and fineness of staple, over all other 

19 H. F. 



200 

sections. Cotton from tliis county has also received gold 
medals and special potices at various expositions, Phila- 
delphia, Chicago, Atlanta and New Orleans, and is fav- 
orably known to the manufacturers all over the world. 
The average annual production of coton is 7500 bales, 
valued at |700,000. 

Ala'hnn countv contribute® one-half of the world's sup- 
ply of spool cotton. 

Alachua county is known in the New England States 
and by the great manufacturers of Ensrland, becaii«e of 
her excellent Sea Island cotton. In this county all the 
cotton produced is ginned and baled here. There are a 
great many gins in the county, and this year some of 
them have been working ^^ay and night. 

There are 5(5 post offices in Alachua county, and 
among them are some 7)rominent towns. Gainesville is 
the county site and the most important in a commercial 
way. It is a city of about 6.000 population, and one of 
the most attractive cities in the State. Her public build- 
ings are excellent ones, and her bf^pnt^'ful resid<^nrps and 
shady streets are the pride of the Northern visitors who 
come here to enjoy the magnificeT^t climate. 

While the city has no large tourists hotels, it has one of 
the best operated hotels in the State. The Brown House, 
:s winning a great reputation for the excellency of the 
service it gives. The rooms are large, elegantly furnished 
aiKl complete. The dining room is always well supplied 
and the servants are courteous and well dis' iplined. In 
every »• spcct it is an ideal hostelry and gives the trav 
elev h*s moneys worth. 

In a business way, Gainesville is ahead of any town of 
it> sv/.Q in The State. She has two excellent banking in- 
Ktitutions, rod her commercial bouses are all solid and 
substantial. 

One of the most important towns in this county, and 
f.ni» which has and is today making rapid progress, is 
Alachua, s!niated at the junctior of the Atlantic Coast 
Lhte, the Seaboard Air Line and the Jacksonville and 
Southwestern Railroads. 

The business men of Alachua have worked together, 
and there is today a great volume of business being trans- 
acted there. The merchants have practically controlled 
.all the cotton grown for miles around that place, and it 



291 

was there wiiere the Stato Long Staple Cotton Protective 
Aw'-ociation was first orpjanized which lias suborganiza- 
tions in every long staple section of the State. 

The mopt important railroad center in this part of the 
State is High Springs, the hon".e of the largest Atlantic 
Coast Line shops in this State. This town, lil^ Alachua, 
ov-'^s its growth to the push and enteii)rise of its cit- 
izens. 

There are advantages which the city enjoys. It is sur- 
rounded by a good fanning section and is on the very 
border of the rich phosphate fields. It has some of the 
best brick blocks in the county and some of the n>pst 
successful and progressive business houses. 

Ore of the coming towns in the county is LaCrosse^ 
the Seaboard Air Line's Suwannee River extension. Sit- 
uated in one of the best fanning sections in the State, 
having a population of enterprising citizens and posses»- 
in" "bundant resources, its growth is destined to be 
Tapid. 

One of the youngest towns in this State is Newberr^- 
situated in the phosphate belt in the western part of- 
Alachua county and on the Atlantic Coast Line and thfi 
Jacksonville and Southwestern railroad. It draws its sup- 
port mainly from the phosphate mines and receivcB 
thousands of dollars every week, money paid to the en*-, 
ployes of the many large phosphate plants in that vicin-^ 
ity. It has several large and reputable business estab- 
lishments, a good school, churches and one of the very, 
best hotels in the State. The citizens of Newberry are 
enterprising and the town is only beginning a long and 
prosperous career. 

Ore of the oldest towns in this State is Archer, sitr 
nated in the southwestern part of the county and at the, 
junction of the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard' 
Air Line. It is located in an excellent farming section, 
from which it draws considerable trade. 

It is blessed with good churches and the populatioa 
takes an active interest in the educational and moral wel- 
fare of the place. 

One of the most interesting as well as one of the larcrest 
towns in this county is Micanony, named after an old In- 
dian chief. It is one of the oldef^t towns in the State and 
was an important place long before Gainesville wail 



292 



known It was in the center of the great fmit section 
o? Ma'chua and northern Marion and when the orange 
huiustry was at its height in this State it was one of the 
woMlthicst towns in Fk>rida. j ^ 

The town has a modern brick school building and one 
of the nX-hools in the State. Several religious denom^ 
^nations a^^ represented by substantial and creditable 
house of worship. The town will continue to advance 
and gain in prominence among the other towns in the 

^^Koihelle is one of the prettiest little towns in the State 
ami is noted for its magniticent dwelling houses and pret- 
ty church editices as well as its school. 
^It is a railroad center, being the terminal of the IT gh 
gnrir.os and lUv-helle branch of the Atlantic ^oast Line, 
fcesieT being on the main line of the Plant ^Xf "^ l^^- 
t^Ten Jacksonville and St. Petersburg. A great manj 
trains pass there daily. „ „«a 

TJl;aiul Grove is situated on the Seaboard Air ^^^e nuA 
on Orange Lake. It is surrounded }^\^^^"^^,.^,V^\? ,^*^l ^f, 
est and most succesful truck farms in the State -^"^^ »«» 
in iJ^viciniiy some of the largest and best orange groves 
in this part of Florida. 

One of the most interesting towns in |his county is 
Hawthorn, situated in the easteim part Sf the county 
xvhere the Atlantic Coa.t Line and the ^^^^^^^^ 'In.t 
main lines cross. This has long been one of the most 

imnortant towns in the county. v i. i • « 

it has the Commercial Hotel, one of the best hostelries 
in the countv, where many Northern people spend their 
winters. The merchants of the place are enterpnsng 
and ai-e enjoving an excellent trade. 

• While Campville is a small place, it is nevertheless one 
Of the most important points in this State. It is the 
home of the largest brick yard in the State, an indnstry 
which gives employment to a great many men The 
town has a good school, and two good church buildnigs. 
There is not a more important railroad center in the 
interior of Florida than the town of Waldo, located at 
tlie lunction of the Cedar Key division and the main line 
of the Seaboard Air Line railroad. The Seaboard Air 
' Line shops are located there and the town has this and 
an excellent farming section to draw from. 



293 

Thoro aro a groat many Rubstantial bnsinf^ss hon«*»« 
here and all of them are enjoying a good trade. The 
Waldo House is one of the best hotels in the State and 
feeds thonfiands of people every nrionth, as all trains stop 
there for breakfsist, dinner and supj)er. 

The town of Melrose is in the extreme eastern part of 
the county. It is located in the counties of Clay, Putnam 
and Alachua, but is recognized as an Alachua county 
town. It is a magnificent winter resort, located as it is 
on a beautiful lake. There are a great many beautiful 
winter homes there owned by northern people who come 
to Melrose every winter. It has the Huffman House, one 
of the best conducted hotels in the State, where a great 
many tourists find life pleasant during the winter sea- 
son. It possess a good school, churches, and the so- 
ciety is excellent. There are in the vicinity of Melrose 
several orange groves which will soon be in bearing ex- 
tensively. Melrose is truly one of the most delightful 
towns in the State. 

The town of Windsor is situated on Newnan's Lake. 
While it is not Avhat can be characterized as an impor- 
tant place, it is nevertheless a beautiful town and has a 
number of elegant and costly homes. 

Bell has the distinction of being the youngest town in 
Alachua ronnty. It was founded a year ago, but today 
a town with considerable population and with a great 
many business houses. There is one of the largest saw 
mill jdants in the State located there, and the farming 
interests in that vicinity are extensive. The town also 
enjoys a remarkable growth. It is on the Suwannee 
river extension of the Seaboard Air Line Kailroad. 

Wilard, situated eight miles east of Bell on the same 
line of railroad, is another youthful town. It has a large 
sawmill, a naval stores manufacturing plant and a good 
mercantile establishment. 

Gainesvile is a growing manufacturing center where 
excellent opportunities an; awaiting men of energy, skill 
and capital. It is situated almost —'^'graphically in the 
center of the State, on the main lines of live Atlantic 
Const Liifc, tie Seaboard Air Line, and Gainesville and 
Gulf railways. 

Backed as it is by fertile lands, progressive farmers 
and truck growers, the phosphate industry, naval stores 



2!>4 

and milling interests, it has always been considered one of 
the most progressive cities in the State. The index of its 
prosperity is tlie character of its homes and business 
houses. The later are of the most substantial kind, all 
built on modern styles, mostly of brick. 

The principal streets are broad, most of them 100 feet 
wide, regularly laid out, and shaded by huge oak trees. 
These streets are paved with Alachua county rock, and 
lighted by electricity. 

The Water Works Plant is one of the finest and most 
complete in the State. It is the property of the city, and 
was constructed at a cost of $60,000 for the payment of 
which there was issued 6 per cent bonds. This consti- 
tutes the only indebtedness of the city. The supply of 
Wiater is pumped from the renowned ''Boulware Springs," 
and i8 as pure chemicallj' as any in the United States, 
and its purity has gained for Gainesville an enviable rep- 
utation. 

The population of Gainesvile comprises about 6,000 
people, the majority of whom are fully alive to the 
natural advantages and resources of their surroundings, 
that await the coming of more caiiital, and earnest, in- 
dustrious men to assist in developing them. 

Capitalists and manufacturers who are seeking invest- 
ment sites on v.hich to locate plants will find many op- 
portunities in Gainesville that will assure them profita- 
ble returns. Its central location and healthfulness are 
euprior advantages. A number of factories of various 
kinds could bo profitably operated from this point. 
Among them, cotton, cotton seed oil, glucose, cigar, can- 
ning, cider and vinegar, wood working, hot and shoe and 
also a foundry and machine shop. There is also a grand 
opening for iiiv('!>;tmeiit« in city and suburban property. 

Her peo])le are well bred, polite and kindly in manner 
and feeling. The social sentiment is most liberal, and 
there exists that pronouncedly warm hospitality to every 
well bred stranger, so characteristic of the Southern 
manner and custom. 

In addition to healthfulness, there is nothing more 
ne<es?nry to tlie advancement of a community than good 
schools and churches. Of these Gainesville is well sup- 
plied. Her churches are elegant brick structures, with 
large congregations ably presided jover. 



295 

The educational advantages offered by Gainesville are 
not surpassed by any city in the State, and by few in the 
South. In addition to the city graded and high school, 
there are a number of private schools and kindergartens 
in charge of thoroughly competent instructors. 

The East Florida Seminary is a State Military and 
Collegiate Institute, of which the citizens of Florida are 
proud. The Seminary buildings, consisting of an acad- 
emic building, barrack and dormitory for the residence 
of students and teachers, are handsome, commodious, and 
admirably adapted to the purposes and regime of a mil- 
itary Pchccl. The grounds are ample, and the drill 
grounds are the finest in the State. The instructors are 
thoroughly competent gentlemen and graduates of the 
leading colleges of America. 

Especially ha® Gainesville gained popularity among 
those who visit Florida to enjoy the hunting which 
Ihe surrounding country affords. Quail, snipe, duck, tur- 
key, squirrels and deer are plentiful. Fishing in the two 
large lakes near Gainesville affords much amusement. To 
all lovers of out door sports there is no better opportu- 
nity afforded than by spending a winter here. 

There is but little rain during the winter and the air 
is beneficial to delicate lungs. The days are generally 
warm and pleasant and the nights cool enough to insure 
comfortable sleep. 

The physicians of Gainesville are among the best in 
the country. Livery stables are conveniently located, 
and their charges are moderate. 

Alachua county is not only the greatest county in 
Florida, but it is one of the greatest counties in the 
United States. In natural resources it abounds in al- 
most everything. In climate, it is recognized as a most 
desirable place of abode, while as to development it i» 
going a head in ev^ry avenue of trade. It is only during 
the past few years that the people of Alachua county 
have appeared to apT)reciate the many advantages na- 
ture has held in store for them. It is only during the past 
few years that There has been any apparent awakening 
in every line of industry and enterprise, but the effects 
of that awakening nre being felt today. 

Alachua county is progressive as she never progressed 
before. New towns are springing up, old towns are grow- 



29(5 

ing, the great farming and truck industries are increas- 
ing in extent, the lumbering enterprise has made remark- 
able advancement, the manufacture of naval stores is 
becoming a great source of revenue, thousands of dollars 
are being received weekly from the great phosphate in- 
dustry, and in every branch of trade, industry or enter- 
prise, the people of Alachua are displaying a commenda- 
ble zeal. 

Following are the principal products of 1902, and their 
value : 

Value. 

Sea Island Cotton, bales, 3,462 $262,655 

Corn, bushels, 368,838 279.365 

Oats, bushels, 32,500 16,250 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 50,425 19,156 

Cabbages, barrels, 46,339 ^ 51,590 

Tomatoes, crates, 14,475 *. 11,945 

Watermelons, carloads, 191 14,470 

Cantaloupes, barrels, 52,980 51,715 

Lettuce, cr-ates, 88,355 89,378 

Peaches, crates, 8,220 6,115 

The following live stock was on hand: 

Horses, 2,899 206,975 

Mules, 987 70.845 

Stock cattle, 25,996 187.799 

Milk cow«, 126 3,775 

Poultry of all kinds 4,000 



BAKER COUNTY. 

This is in the northern tier of counties and is bordered 
on the north by the State of <jCorgia, south by Bradford 
County, east by Duval, and on the wet^t by Columbia. It 
contains 585 square miles or 374,400 acres of land sur- 
face. The population in 1890 was 3.383, and in 1900, 
4,516, of which 3.325 were white and 1.191 were negroes. 

The total number of schools in 1901 was 42, of which 
38 were white and 4 colored. 

The pj'incipal town and county seat is Macclenny, 
situated on the Seaboard Air Line Railroad; the number 
of inhabitants was 350 in 1900. Olustee, a small village 



297 

in the western part of the county, was the scene of the 
only real serious battle in Florida during the late war. 
Both towns are thriving business places. 

The topography of the county is generally level, the 
soil mostly sandy, with some small bodies of hammock 
lands at intervals. The principal industry is general 
farming, truck growing, and lumbering. 

The principal timber growths are pine and cypress, 
which is being cut in large quantities and sawed up into 
the various forms for commercial purposes, by the numer- 
ous large mills. 

* The health of the people is alv/ays good and epidemic 
diseases have never been known. It produces most of the 
crops usually grown in the State, and also in one or two 
lo' alities, the Satsuma orange succeeds remarkably well, 
notably the Tabor grove at Glen St. Mary, where the cul- 
tivation of this variety of orange is made a specialty. 

The people of this county are generous, kind and warm- 
hearted and extend the glad hand of friendly welcome to 
all who come with good intent to make their abode with 
US. 

In 1902. the following constiti7tpd the principal pro- 
ducts of the county and their value: 

Value. 

Sea Island cotton, bales, 1,263 |8T,459 

Corn, bushels, 79,815 63 858 

Oats, bushels, 10,185 5,091 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 81,851 24.606 

Syrup, barrels, 1,706.. 17.045 

Sugar, pounds. 51,500 2,580 

Field peas, bushels, 20.597 20.597 

Peanuts, bushels, 40,420 40.420 

Velvet beans, "bushels, 8,500*. 8,500 

Oranges, boxes. 270 550 

Peaches, bushels, 5,400 4,203 

And the following live stock was on hand: 

Horses. 420 ^. 18,360 

Mules, 215 14,485 

Stock cattle, 5,877 30.485 

Hogs, 3,493 3,493 

Milch cows, 862 8.665 

Poultry of all kinds 8,351 



BRADFORD COUNTY, 

This county is Ktmidod on the north bv l>;\kor. south 
bv Alaohua. east by Ohiy and on the wrst by Columbia. 

Number of squaw miles of hind surface. 552. or 
S5oJ2S0 acres, 

.The iH^puhition in 1S90 was 7.510. and in 1900. 10.295, 
of whi h 7.5t>;> aiv white and 2,727 are colored. 

Just look at a map of Florida and you will rind us liv- 
injT on five railroads about forty miles southwest from 
Jacksonville. 

Main line of Seaboard Air Line passes twenty miles 
thnnigh eastern part, with its Suwannee division 16 miles 
southwest from Starke: Georgia Southern and Florida 35 
miles frtnu northwest pan^ to southeast iH^rlion; Jackson- 
ville and Southwestern 25 miles from central northeast to 
central southwest: Gainesville and Gulf 5 miles frum 
Sampson City south. Not a farm in our cotmty is i)ut t»f 
easv distance from railroad transportatio^i. 

Every part abuudan^^ of water at all times of the year 
for man and beast. L^ikes Sampson. I^utlcr. Cl^>sby, 
Kowell. Navarro, Santa Fe, Fern, Dekle. Swift Creek, and 
South Prtmg: streams are the Santa Fe. New Kiver. Olus- 
tee. Swift Creek. Sampson, Alli£[ator. Turkey Creek, Mill 
Creek, with all their hundreds of branches and riverlets. 

Throughout our domain every variety of soil, rich ham- 
mock, fertile sugar and rice muck beds, rolling pine loaTU, 
deep rit h I'ark undulating tlatwoods loam — all with gixni 
clay subsoil. Our methods of cultivation are yet some- 
what primitive — nearly all with one-horse plow, but the 
writer has lived here twenty-three years and has never 
yet seen a failure of good crops where planting and culti- 
vation were properly attende^d to. 

With modem cultivators, harrows, sulky plows, reap- 
ing and mowing machines, rollers, cutters, etc.. our possi- 
bilities in agriculture are immense. The secret of success 
in farm life is to reduce the cost of production. But 
even with our one-horse plow and primitive methods of 
preparation, planting, cultivation and gathering of crops 
our farmers who work make abundance and to spare. 

Our soil and climate favor successful production of 
most every field crop, vegetable and fruit known in North- 
^st Florida, but so far the main home and market pro- 



299 

ducts are corn, oats, hay, rye, sea iMland cotton, chufa«, 
pinder«, snap beans, onions, cabbages, tomatoes, (^^<^- 
pinders, field j/eas, sweet potatoes, cassava, velvet beans, 
Irish j>otatoes, snap beans, onions, cabbages, tomatoes, 
eggplant, melons, cantalouj/es, cucumbers, lettuce, sugar 
cane, tobacco, rice, 8trawl>cn'ies, beef, muitou. pork, field 
cane, tobacco, rice, strawben-ies, beef, mutton, pork, 
peaches, plums, grapes, j^ears, peacan nuts, and some 
oranges. With native and imported gi-asses, beggar weed 
and field peas and velvet beans. Our lands can easily and 
rapidly be improved to great fertility. Unimproved lands 
sell at §;i'.50 to ^o jtf^r acre. Imjiroved farms at $10 to f25 
per acre, according to location and class of improvements. 

Now, you ask, give some actual results? In answer we 
say '-there is more in the man than in the land." Our 
projgT-essive, ambitious and wide-awake fanners make 20 
to 35 bushels corn per aci-e, where the lazy drones hardly 
average ten bushels : 

Our business method strawberry growers realize |200 
to |.5O0 per acre net profits each season, while the ignor- 
ant, blundering, and shiftless man will hardly make ex- 
fienses. As an example of the success attained by intelli- 
gent methods, J. M. Brownlee & Son, near Starke, cleared 
^5,200 on ten acres of strawbeiTies, season of 1902 ship- 
ments. 

Our best sea island cotton planters average 700 to 900 
pounds j>er acre unginned cotton, worth now G to 7 cents 
a pound in the seed, while the lazy-bones hardly average 
250 j)Ounds i>er acre. 

The comparison applies in game proportion to sugar, 
syrup, rice, cattle, and all the products enumerated above 
in this article. In soil, climate, water and good health na- 
ture has lavished upon us her choicest gifts. If we do our 
part well, the results of labor intelligently applied are 
more than satisfactory. Not only the necessary comforts 
of life, but many of its luxuries can be made to abound 
all the year round. 

Our population is 11,000, census of 1900, a gain of 37 
per cent, over that of 1890. Whites outnumber blacks 
4 to 1. 

Assessed valuations aggregate $1,764,574. Multiply 
this by four and you will about hit actual values where 
sale is not forced. 



300 

School tax 5 milles for 4 months public term, but one- 
half of the school districts have voluntarily voted upon 
themselves as sub-school districts an additional 3 milla 
tax and run their schools 8 months in the year. There are 
53 schools, of which 43 are white and 10 colored. Of the 
white schools 8 are graded and teach a full high school 
course of study. Total pupils enrolled 2,633, with 73 per 
centage attendance. Value of school property, |12.000. 
Teachers are paid salaries of |112 per month down to |2() 
per month. Average salary per month, $34.24. 

The Bradford County High School at Starke, the county 
seat, runs 8 months each year. It is a graded school of 
regular course of studies from beginner to graduate, and 
employs a principal and six assistant teachers. Its en- 
rollment has reached 240. It has large roomy buildings, 
with modern desks and appliances. There are neat hand- 
some school buildings throughout the entire county. 
Our people are wide awake on the subject of education. 

Average winter temperature 52 degrees; spring, 66 de- 
grees; summer, 79 degrees; autumn, 67 degrees; annual 
average, 66 degrees. 

Bradford County is on a plateau ISO feet above sea 
level. The health Sijtistics prove remarkable freedom 
from any serious forms of diseases, and even of malarial 
fevers. We are certainly blessed with good health the 
year round. Come and isee, aud be convinced. Come any 
time of the year. Cool pleasant breezes will wel'ome you 
in mid-summer, and a genial balmy sunsiiine in mid-win- 
ter; but don't forget to bring your overcoat for occa- 
sional winter use, and ])lenty of light bed coverings for 
constant use during entire summer time, for our summer 
nights are delightfully cool and pleasant. In fact we 
who have lived here for years, summer and winter, actual- 
ly prefer the Florida summers to her winters. -Tust come 
along and summer and winter with us, select your piece 
of soil and patch of sky, then go to work with sound busi- 
ness methods aud reasonable patience and content and 
live happy. But if you expect something for nothing 
don't come at all. 

Starke, on the Seaboard Air Line, is a neat, ])roo;res- 
sive town of !)00 to 1,100 population at present, with a 
steady, healthy business growth. A new court house of 



301 

pressed brick and stone is just completed. A telephone 
exchange is in operation, and water works and electric 
light plants are now being installed under competent con- 
tracts. Mineral spring water near Starke took the medal 
at the last State Fair held at Jacksonville. 

Starke'a citizens are now building a carriage and bi- 
cycle road a few miles out to the clear beautiful crystal 
waters of Kingsley Lake, which as a bathing, boating and 
pleasure and cooling summer resort i» simply delightful. 
This lake is round and 2J miles in diameter, with clean 
sand beach, and its water, fed entirely by mineral sprintgs, 
so perfectly clear that a bright nickel can be seen twenty 
feet deep in its cool depths. It is life and health and 
strength and joy for children and adults to bathe and 
swim in its pure water. Its shady shore scenery of hick- 
ory, oak, magnolia, sweet bay, dogwood and pine forest, 
with drapery of Spanish moss, in contrast with the bright 
water, make the whole a tonic to mind and body. 

Other towns in the county -in order of population and 
business are Lake Butler, Lawtey, Hampton, Providence, 
Eaiford, Clayno, Sampson City, New River, Highland, 
Worthington Springs. Churches, with neat buildings 
and good congregations, throughout the entirq county. 

As illustration, we have in Starke Methodist, Baptist, 
Presbyterian, Episcopal and Christian churches, with se- 
cret societies of Masons, Odd Fellows, and Knights of 
Pythias. 

Bradford county is prosperous and progressive, its peo- 
ple self supporting, its future brigh|:. Its exports in sea 
island cotton and strawberries and peache? alone fi^gure 
into several hundred thousand dollars annually. 

The principal products for 1902 were as follows: 

Value. 

Sea island cotton, bales, 3,224 $22.5.(U0 

Corn, bushels, 144,675.. 107.772 

Oats, bushels, 25,835 17.031 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 40,820 10 330 

Syrup, barrels, 2,060 20 600 

Peanuts, bu.-hels. 35,610 35.610 

Strawberries, quarts, 274,740 54,760 



302 

The live stock on hand was as follows: 

Horses, 1,227 83,245 

Mules, 571 46,730 

Stock cattle, 13,235 105,787 

Hogs, 5,899 5,899 

Poultry all kinds, number, 27.434 8,955 



BREVARD COUNTY, 

This county lies on the east coast of Florida, stretching 
along the Atlantic Ocean for a distance of 115 miles. 
Cape Canaveral, with its lofty light house, being near its 
northeast eorner. Its county seat is Titusville, which 
lies near the northern boundary of the county. 

The population is slightly over 6,000. Its principal 
towns are Titusville, Cocoa, Rockledge, Eau-Gallie, Mel- 
bourne, Sebastian, Ft. Pierce and Jensen. Many other 
thriving little villages are scattered over the county, ad- 
ding much to the importance of the county and to its so- 
cial and material welfare. Tire well known Indian river 
extends through the whole length of the county. Its 
oranges and its pineapples are known wherever epicures 
partake of these delicious fruits. The soils are broadly 
divisible into hammock, spruce pine, muck and fiat woods. 
The productions are numerous and varied. 

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

This county ranks among the first in the State in the 
number and value of its public buldings. These com- 
pr'se court house, clerk's office and jail and other build- 
ivn-n for the conduct of public bu«?ineps. These are mostly 
of brick and are substantial and well equipped. 

CHURCHES. 

The countv has 20 churches, belonging to the various 
de^omipations. It is always difficult to get exact statis-, 
tics of church affairs. The pastors of these churches all 
renort r-oo'l attcnrfance. well r>ntroP'zed Sabbath Schools, 
and a healthy, spiritual growth. The pulpits are well 



3oa 

and ably filled and the new comer is very likely to find as 
able a man in the pnlpit of his chosen church here as in 
the church he left in some other i^tate. 

BANKS. 

Titnsville has the Indian River State r>ank, Cocoa has 
Brevard County State Bank, Ft. Pierce has Bank of Ft. 
Pierce, Jensen has Planters Security Bank. These banks 
aggregate deposits of ^3()0,00() or over. Their policy is at 
once broad and conservative. Many of the local enter- 
prises are made possible by the aid of these banks. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

There are four in the county — The Star and The Advo- 
cate at Titusville, The Cocoa and Rockledge News, at 
Cocoa, the Melbourne Times at Melbourne. All are up- 
to-date papers. The Advocate and the Star own and oc- 
cupy a commodious brick building. 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY. 

County SuDPrintendent's report for the year ending 
June 30th, 1902: 

SUMMARY. 

Indebtedness July 1, 1901 $5,337.31 

Indebtedness July 1, 1902 1,316.09 



Deduction during year 14.021.22 

Warrants outstanding July 1st, 1901 | 5 3fi8 02 

Warrants issued during year 17.868.52 



Total f!23 236.54 

Warrants paid during year 20,427.86 

Warrants outstanding July 1st, 1902 |!2.808 68 

Total warrants outstandiri? July 1st, 1902 2.808.68 

Leps cash in treasury July 1st, 1902 1 .492.59 



Net indebtedness July 1st, 1902 1,316.09 



ao4 

GENERAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR. 

Number of white schools opened 40 

Number of colored schools opened 9 49 

Number white teachers employed 42 

Number colored teachers employed 11 53 

ENROLLMENT OF PUPILS. 

Total white, males 460 

Total whites, females 417 877 

Total colored, males 156 

Total colored, females 175 331 

Total of both races 1,208 

ATTENDANCE OF PUPILS. 

Daily average of white males .308 

Daily average of white females 288 596 

Daily average of colored males 103 

Daily average of colored females 114 217 

Daily average of both races 813 

VALUATIONS. 

The assessed valuation of Brevard County is as follows 
for 1901 : 

The assessed valuation of Brevard County real estate 
is $1,524,400. 

The assessed valuation of the railroads in the county 
is 1730,008.56. 

The assessed valuation of the personal propertv is 
1225,495. 

The rates, millage of taxation for the various funds, is 
as follows: 

County revenue, general fund, 4 mills. 

General School Fund, 5 mills. 

General Road Fund, 3 mills. 

Fine and Forfeiture Fund, Ih mills. 

Special Road Tax, District No. 3, 5 mills. 



305 

Special School Tax, Districts 1, 2 and 3, 3 mills. 
State tax, 5 mills. 

llie above is for the year 1901, as the tax books for 
1901: are not yet turned into the clerk's office. 

CATTLE INDUSTRY. 

The cattle business has been prominent for many years. 
Immense herds roam the country around Ft, Drum and 
the prairies back of Ft. Fierce. K is believed by many 
that the cattle business offers one of the best investments 
today to be found in the county. The number of cattle 
and animals and the value of same is as follows: 

Number of horses, 342; number of cattle, T,!)T4; number 
of sheep, 105; number of swine, G99; value of above, 
$47,550.00. 

FRUIT GROWING. 

Brevard County after all is pre-eminently a fruit-grow- 
ing county. The list embraces Oranges, Lemons, Limes, 
Pomelo, Tangerines, Kumquats, Shaddock, Pineapples, 
Ma^.^oes, Avacado Pears, Guavas, Sugar Apple, Sappo- 
dilla, etc. 

All the above are grown in quantity and for market. 
Many other fruits are grown in smaller volume and for 
home consumption. The orange industry is now, and 
has been for many years, one of the prime resources of 
the county, annually bringing into the county |100,000 
to .f200,000. The output of Pomelo has rapidly increased 
in the past few years and now ranks as a heavy money 
maker. Its future is bright and our people have faith 
in it. 

The Citrus interests of the county are now more widely 
distributed than formerly. They now extend from one 
end of the county to the other, and in extreme South 
Prevard can toc^nv be found some of thp best yoursr crroves 
in the county. This is true of the country from Sebastian 
south to Waveland and extending well into the back 
country where some of our oldest residents have fine 
pTovPs. rotiibly Judge Minor S. .Tonrs nnrl ]Mr. F. W. 
Hall, who have fine groves at Klondyke, some miles west 

20 n. F. 



306 

of Quay P. O., in the heavy hauimock back of that place. 
Mr. H. S. Williams, of Rockledge and others have fine 
young groves west of Ft. Pierce, and Mr. C. T. McCarty 
has line young gTovts north of St. Lucie along the Florida 
East Coast Kailway. Other sections of the county are 
also making a start in this direction. The heaviest ship- 
ments are from the Rockledge settion and from Merritt's 
Island, where Mr. E. P. Porcher and others havo fine and 
paying groves. 

VEGETABLES. 

Vegetables are grown for profit all over the county. 
The vegetable output embraces the whole range of mar- 
ketable products. The output for the season of 1901 and 
1902 netted |1 25,000 and was the chief source of income 
to a considerable number of our people. The sections 
growing the greater volume of the vegetable crop were 
Narrows, White City, Jensen, Ft. Pierce and points on 
Merritt's Island. 

Beans, Irish Potatoes, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Egg Plant 
and Celery are the principal market crops, although 
other vegetables are getting more attention than form- 
erly. Strawberries have been grown in a small way with 
profit for some years and seem to be destined to occupy a 
larger share of public attention. 

PINEAPPLES. 

This is probably the most extensive and profitable in- 
dustry in the county. The acreage is 2,000, the output 
for the year 1901 was 300,000 crates of an averac^ of 30 
apples to the crate and netting an average of $1.75 per 
crate. This was, doubtless, the best croT) in the county, 
corsidering the acreage. The nnrt of th^ countv that 
experience has shown to be best adapted to the growing 
of this crop lies between the Srbast'an river and the 
south part of the county. Sou^e pinea')ples are grown 
on Merritt's TsUukI. pt Oeoro-i'Mni. fimv.p at M'^'b^'ur'^e 
Beach and a few at Wh^te Citv. hvf <^' ^^rv '-r^f. of nil fli(» 
pirea')nles grown in Ihc ro^irt^' iire bofwof^n Sebastian 
and St. I i7cie r'ver al')'\g tb^ ''ne of the Fieri r'a E'-i«;t 
Coast Railway and along ln('i;^n river. The elevntpd 



^. ao7 

spruce pine and scrub oak and hickor}' ridges have proven 
best adapted to the growth of this fruit. For the infor- 
mation of those who want to know more of the practical 
details of pineapple growing the following facts are 
given : 

It will be understood that what is said on this subject 
is from the field rather tlian from the book standpoint, 
and tliat what sometimes applies to the southern part of 
Brevard County, and the northern part of Dade County, 
on the East Coast of Florida, may not apply to the Keya 
or the Bahamas, where pineapples are also grown. Dif- 
ference in latitude, altitude, proximity to large bodies 
of water, prevailing direction of wind, exposure to sea 
breezes, difference in soil and other factors might vary 
the method pursued. It will be understood that theories, 
and disputed and mooted questions generally will not be 
discussed. While this m'ght deligrht the specialist and 
the man of years of residence in Florida, it would be of 
no value to the new comer or the intending settler, for 
whom this is prepared. On the contrary, it would only 
tend to confusion and do a positive harm. We take up 
the subject of pineapple culture from the standpoint of a 
successful, profitable and well established industry. 

We do not belieAe that so much depends upon a few 
miles north or south as upon a corresponding number of 
feet in altitude above the level of the river. In this we 
do not take the position that there is nothing in latitude, 
but very mu< h in altitude. We also look at it from the 
broader stand point of experience and observation, aotl 
are free from those local prejudices that are sometimes 
given undue prominence. Some localities claim with 
dogmatic certainty that they are the only pineajiple 
growing section. The unbiased, observing man, travelin-^ 
through the region indicated would not be thus impressed. 

There seems to be some confusion as to the means by 
which pineapples are propagated. 1 will briefly state the 
local names of the various pineapple plant growths, with 
sufficient informat'on for the new conipr to identifv thoin 
and become familiar with ihe phrnseology of this busi- 
ness. They are: (1) Slips, (2) Suckers." (3) Rattoons, 
(4) Crowns. (5) Crownletp. The sPu p-mws at tl>p toT» of 
the fruit stalk, around the base of the annle, and are the 
most prolific sources of p^ropagation. The sucker grows 



308 

out of the axle of the leaf of the parent plant. The rat- 
toon might be i ailed a root sueker: that is, it grows out of 
the base of the plant at or below the snrfai-e of the gro\ind. 
The crown occupies the center and top of the ripened 
fruit. The crownlets, as its name implies, is a little 
ci'own or small plant that sometimes grows around the 
base of i\\'e crown proper. Thev are not considered desir- 
able as plants, bi-nr^p; too small for the rapid production 
of fruit ; however, by careful nursing, in thiiv years lime 
they usually develop a fair fruit. In very choice or famy 
varieties they ai"e planted in nurseries and transplanted 
when sutTicieutly grown. 

The crown proi>er, when cut and some of the lower 
leaves removed, makes a good plant, but it is found by 
observation to be inclined tv> "sport," as the botanists 
put it. The same is probably true of the crowulet. The 
rattoon is a desirable additic^n to the original plant, be- 
cause it grs)ws low down and aids the |>erpctuity of the 
plantation. The fruit whiih it produces is not usually 
eo large as that prodmed by the suckers. The suckers 
come out otf the axle of the leaves, and vary in number 
from one to four, averaging about two to the plant, and 
are the plants that produce the succeeding crop. The 
number of slip>s per apple varies from three to six in the 
common varieties, and sometimes as high as twelve or 
even twenty in some of the fancy varieties. 

Kepirding the preparation of the land, the method of 
clearing it, and the planting of it out. we will follow the 
most time tried and well tested methods. In this as in all 
other agricultural matters, the methods of procedure, 
will differ somewhat and embody the ideas of various 
ix'ople. We will give it as we tind it most successfully ia 
vogue throughout the ivgion under discussion. The laud 
riust be thoroughly cleared of grubs, the roots, stumps 
and trees thoroughly removed, and land left in a condi- 
tion similar to that of a gtirden. We clear the land 
mostly in the winter and spring, having it ready for set- 
ting in June. July and August. 'VA'e use for marking an 
instrument whii h marks four or five rows at a time and 
can be handled by one man. At present the nmjoritv of 
the work on pineapple plantations is done by ban 1. Th's 
W'll raTiidly chang-e. as don^pstic animals cf all kinds ai-e 
being introduced, and the methods of performing much of 



309 

this labor will soon be simplified and made much easier. 
There is much difference of opinion as to the proper dis- 
tance of planting pineapples. A few years ago it was be- 
lieved that 25x30 inches or 28x28 was sufficiently close. 
These distances have been steadily narrowed down until 
today the greater portion of the fields are being planted 
20x20 or 22x22 in squares. Some even think that i»xi» 
is sufficient room. Experience, however, is showing that 
20x'>0 answers all the objections to long distance plant- 
ing and fills all the requirements for short distance planf- 
ing The reason why long distances are being discarded 
and shorter distances advocated is because of the support 
that the suckers give each other as the years go by. 12,000 
to 15,000 per acre are planted. 

To the new comer it is perhaps neces.sary to say that 
after plantirg slips in the summer season it requires from 
eighteen months to two years to bring these plants to ma- 
turity and obtain the first crop of fruit. The field then 
produces the next year from the suckers, and continues 
to do this for six or seven years, producing five to seven 
good crops before resetting. These suckers have a more 
Blender hold on the plant than the original plant had 
upon the soil, and with each succeeding year the sucker 
grows higher up on the plant and becomes more un- 
Bteadv; consef|uently they require the support of each 
other and this support ran only be obtained by close 
planting. In long distance planting there is a tendency 
for the suckers to lean over and the fruit to become sun- 
burnt and injured on one side, as it is likely to do when 
not standing in an upright or erect position. While thia 
is the fundamental reason for short distance planting, 
there are other numerous economic reasons, based on good 
practical experience, which recommend it to the n<*w 
comer. Per^=opally, we plant out the Red Soanish ^0x20, 
and recommend that as a safe distance. After the suck- 
ers grow, this number is yjerhaps doubled, and it will be 
readily seen that this is a very large number of plants, 
and tliat sufTicicnt space must be allowed around each to 
put fertilizer, arid upon which to walk and work in car'n<; 
for the plantation. These distances a only to the Red 
Spanish, Rtr-awberry, or Key Largo variety, which is the 
common pine of con^'^'"^'"**. 

The Porto Rico, which is a remarkably large plant, pro- 



310 

duciDg an apple weighing from eight to fifteen pounds, 
requires more spate. We think 24x00 inches about right 
£or it. The Egyptian Queen, another of our better varie- 
ties, requires a distance of about 22x22 inches. The 
Abbaka and Smooth Cayenne requires a little more dis- 
tance than the Ked Spanish. We think 22x22 a fair dis- 
tance for these. However, if a man plants but few and 
has time to stake up or support the plants, greater dis- 
tances may be allowed. 

A fair list of desirable varieties would embrace: (1) 
Red Spanish, (2) Egyptian Queen, (3) Ripley, (4) Abak- 
ka,' (5) Smooth Cayenne, (6) Porto Kico, (7) Enville 
City. 

Pamphlets on pineapple and orange growing may be 
had by sending 4 cents in stamps to C. T. McCarty, 
Eldred, Fla. 

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 

Brevard County is traversed its entire length by the 
Florida East Coast Railway. There being 125 miles of 
railway- in the county. This is assessed at |5,000 per 
mile and pays about one-third of the taxes in the county. 
Rapid and cheap transit is thus had with the outside 
Ttvorld. The Indian River is traversed by steamers be- 
"^^ tween Cocoa and I]au Gallic, and points on Merritt'a 
^ Island, thus connecting them with the railway. St. 
Lucie River points are connected by steamers and power 
launches with Stuart on the railroad. No county in the 
State has better or more rapid transportation. 

CLIMATE. 

Perhaps the best way to give an adequate idea of the 
climate of the county is to give the official figures for 
1901, thus embracing the entire year. These figures are 
from the United States Government reports: 

Mean annual temperature, 73.0 degrees as against 68.8 
degrees for the whole State. 

Total precipitation, G3.11 inches, as against 58.47 inches 
for the whole State. 

Prevailing direction of the wind southeast. 

The precipitation is fairly well divided throughout the 



^ 



311 

year. The period most likely to be dry is in the early 
spring. During the fall the rainfall is more marked than 
during other parts of the year. 

Our summer weather ^s not excessive, but the summers 
in a semi-tropical country are of necessity long. 

MANUFACTURES. 

Several saw mills are in operation. There is a Tannic 
acid factory at Titusville doing a good business under the 
management of Mr. VVm. M. Brown. This factory is 
utilizing the despised saw palmetto and making of it a 
source of revenue to the county. At Melbourne, under 
the management of John Nicholson, a palmetto fiber fac- 
tory is in successful operation. This turns out fiber to 
make into mattrasses and uses the leaves of the saw pal- 
metto. In a limited way there are several jelly and can- 
ning factories in operation. 

NEW SETTLERS WELCOMED. 

The people of Brevard County have always extended to 
the new comer a welcoming and a helping hand. Choice 
of many profitable lines of fruit growing is offered and 
in some instances a combination of several crops can be 
raised in the same plare, thus ensuring greater diversity 
and surer rewards. Inspection of our resources is 
courted and to this end the mayors of the various towns, 
the Board of County Commissioners, the land department 
of the F. E. C. Ry., and the real estate dealers will co- 
operate. 

LANDS. 

The graf^es, adantibility, price and lay of land varies 
so widely thRt much care is needed in making a selection. 
The crop to be raised is first to be decided on. Then the 
grade and location of Innd needs attention. A study 
should be made of the climatic features of each locality 
and the climatic requirements of the crop to be grown. 

Lands vary in price from $.5.00 to $100.00 and more is 
sometimes paid in certain favored locations and for throw- 
ing certain crop©. The location as regards situation on 



312 

Indian Kiver proximity to town and to well settled neigh- 
borhoods modifies the price. 

It is impossible in a general art'He to go into more de- 
tails as to land prices. Specific inquiry alone will avail 
the intending purchaser. 

The principal soil products for 1902 were : 

Value. 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 22.060 1 11,455 

Irish potatoes, barrels. 4,010 11 ,980 

Tomatoes, crates, 10,690 11.015 

Beans, crates, 62,130 53 350 

Oranges, crates, 127,430 330,740 

Grape fruit, crates. 3,574 11.305 

Guavas, crates, 5.325 2,740 

Live stock as follows on hand : 

Horses, 3^3 14.310 

Stock cattle, 9,321 40.150 

Hogs. 1,490 3 7T5 

Milr h cows, 159 5..5.35 

Poultry, all kiufls. number, 17,015 8.209 

Eggs, dozens, 279,500 29,785 



CALHOUN COUNTY. 

This county is bounr?e<l on t^e north bv .Jackson Tountv, 
on the south by the Gulf of Mexico, on the west bv the 
Gulf and Washington County, and on the east bv the 
Apalachicola river for the entire length of the countv. 

It has 1,007 sauare miles of land surface, or 678.400 
acres. In 1890 the total pooulntion was 1.081. In 1900 
it had increased to 5,132, of which 3,092 were white and 
2,040 were colored. 

It had at end of school term in 1901 a total of 30 
schools, of which 21 were for whites and 9 were for ne- 
groes. 

Blountstown, on the Apalachicola river, is the county 
seat. The Apalachicola river on the eastern bound'^rv is 
navigable for larre stpamers all the year around, a^ri soy. 
eral lines of fine boats ply its water<5 from ATin^achicoia 
to Columbus, Ga., giving excellent transportation facili- 



313 

ties to the products of the county. The Chii)ola riv"r, 
running through nearly the whole county, is navigable 
most of the year. Lake Chipola, near (he center of tho 
county, is sixteen miles lorg and from one to three miles 
wide. It abounds in fish. The Chipola river passes 
through it before emptying into the Apalachicola. 

Attention has been given to orange growing in this 
county, and with profitable success, Several fine groves 
are in a flourishing condition though not yet bearing to 
any extent. 

Peaches r'o well and are grown by almost every one for 
home consumption. 

The soil of Calhoun is mostly of a loose sandy nature, 
underlaid with clay, and is largely what is known as first 
and second rate pine lands. There are also fine hammock 
lands. 

The timber consists principally of pine and cypress, but 
there are large quantities of valuable hard woods along 
and in the vicinity of the creeks and rivers. 

Calhoun is one of the largest honey producing counties 
in the State, and its pro'^uct has quite a reputation in 
the markets for the excellence of its quality. 

Its principal farm products for the year 1902 were as 
follows: 

Value. 

Upland cotton, bales, 558 |19,030 

Sea island cotton, bales, 1,133 19,980 

Corn, bushels, 63,498 62.026 

Oats, bushels. 9,682 ". 6,989 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 30,165 15,667 

Byrup, barrels, 1,943 11,656 

Rice, bushels, 860 860 

Field peas, bushels, 5.-336 5.336 

Teanuts. bushels. 14.308 14.398 

Honey, pounds, 231,420 11,443 

Live stock on hand as follows: 

Horses, number, 462 36,795 

Mules, number, 205 19.850 

Btock cattle, number, 6,4.54 41,198 

Sheep, number, 4.532 8.964 

Hoi^. number. 5.997 17.131 

Poultry of all kinds, number, 30,557 '. . , 7,.505 



314 

CITRUS COUNTY. 

This county is along and south of the 29th parallel of 
north latitude; on the west side and in the narrowest por- 
tion of the peninsular of Florida. It is bounded on the 
east and north by the weird Withlacoochee River, navi- 
gable at all seasons; on the west by the Gulf of Mexico, 
and on the south by Hernando, County. 

It has 612 square miles of land surface, or 391,680 
ftcres. 

In 1890 the total population was 2,394, and in 1900, it 
was 5,391, of which 2,754 were white and 2,637 were 
negroes. At the end of the school term of 1901, it sup- 
ported 27 schools, of which 21 were white and 6 were 
colored. 

Embraced within these limits is a section of high, roll- 
ing lands, lakes and magnificent hammocks; the high lands 
extend through Hernando into Pasco county, and consti- 
tute, by far, the largesf part of the county. Devoid of 
low swamps and ponds it can trutJifully be said to be as 
healthy as any land on the face of the earth. 

The county was created out of the northern part of the 
territory of Hernando county by tho Legislature in 1887, 
and contains twenty-four townships, in whole or in part. 

Citrus County, owing to its location, soil, etc., presents 
numberless cogent arguments why the rural population 
from the negro belts of the South and the frigid North 
should desire to find a home with us. It is needless to 
array these facts in this article, requiring too much time 
and space. The happy homes of those to the manor born 
indubitably point to w^hat may be accomplished by the 
despairing cotton planter and the horny handed yeomanry 
of those States where subsistence can only be wrung from 
the soil by ceaseless toil. 

HOMOSASSA, 

Which is the widest known place, perhaps, in the county, 
contends with the famous places of Florida for tho prece- 
dence for picturesque scenery and ftttractions for the 
tourist. 

Homosasaa is now the west coast terminus of the Silver 
Springs, Ocala and Gulf railroad, and Pullman sleepers 



? 315 

can land the tourist at the famous hostlery, presided over 
by ye old time host. He may leave the hills clad in a 
winding sheet of snow and the rivers locked in the un- 
broken ice, and in a few hours step out into the bright 
sunshine and warm atmosphere of the famous resort. If 
perchance he should reach Homosassa at night, which is 
the case generally, when he awakes in the morning there 
will burst upon his vision such a scene as will photograph 
upon his mind an unfading picture of loveliness. Look- 
ing across the river he may behold the private home of a 
wealthy man, that will bring up to his mind the Biblical 
picture of the Egyptian Queen descending to the water's 
edge and discovering "Moses in the bulrushes." 

Here many thousands of dollars have been spent em- 
bellishing homes wherein the bleak winters of the North 
may be baffled and the flush of youth be restored to the 
cheeks of the tired devotee of fashion and amusement. 

Fine hammock lands, the natural home of the orange 
and lemon, are interspersed with browsy meadows and 
low lands susceptible to drainage, exceedingly fertile, are 
common to all these rivers spoken of, and some day will 
be described by a more facile pen. 

The high table lands adjacent to the rich lands of the 
coast, removed from the insects and malaria of the 
swamps, presents one of the most attractive advantages 
to the well-to-do man, who wishes to find an ideal home 
in the hills, and at the same time enjoy the pleasures 
arising from propinquity to the coast. Thousands can 
find such homes, and the lands are of such a nature as to 
be susceptible to indefinite improvement. Here is des- 
tined to be the home of thousands. Men may settle here 
and by an expenditure of only a small part of the sum 
expended by the Californians for irrigation, make the de- 
sert smile. 

CRYSTAL RIVER. 

The town by that name is located at the head of the 
river. There are good schools and churches; with the 
most active Christian Endeavor Society in the county. 
The river is the largest of all the spring rivers alonjj the 
west coast, being the outflow of many large springs, 
bursting out of the bowels of the earth, it flows westward 



316 

eight miles through beautiful hammocks and Uien min- 
gles its placid flood with the Gulf. 

Shell Island, at the mouth of the river, is admirably 
situated for fishing, hunting, sailing and boating, which 
can be enjoyed the year round. A pier could be erected 
where the steamers from New Orleans to Tampa, Key 
West and Havana could land. 

The Atlantic Coast Line railroad connects Crystal 
River with the world. 

The Gulf coast of Citrus County is the most attrac- 
tive on the entire west shore of Florida, and is destined 
1o be the home of a large population. Her beautiful 
towns will grow into cities to be famed in future song; 
the resort of artists and pleasure seekers. 

WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER. 

A large stream rising more than one hundred miles 
south, flowing in a general noi-therly direction until it 
strikes the south boun'^ary of Citrus where it deflects to 
the east, then north, forming the east boundary of the 
county; thence turning west it forms the north boundary 
of the county. The river moves sluggishly through low 
hammocks. 

The land, exceedingly fertile, is to a remarkable degree 
adanted to the growth of f raits or any other crop grown 
in the South. The last twenty miles of this river flows 
through high banks, dashing over falls concealing in its 
depths vast stores of a^iimal remains and phosphate rocks. 

Along the river and Ivi^^ar bptween it and Charla Apopka 
lake is a peculiar section, known as the 

COVE COUNTRY. 

Divided (bv cha^^iols. from the river into the lake or 
riv^r ^9-aln) like Gall into three Darts. Lower, Middle 
and TTnper Cove. It is picturesque in the extreme, 
abounding in islands of hnrnmock, surrounded with wa- 
ter or saw grass. Thope hordes of hammock in some 
cases are occupied bv spttlers who have happy homes em- 
bowpred in orano^e or l^mon ffrovps. 

Whfit strikes the mind of the intelligent observer is the 
vast bodies of rich saw grass that can so easily be drained 



317 

and planted in sugar cane. Why the necessity of our 
government spending so much money supporting the 
Hawaiian Islands, when we have in our land a country 
so well adapted to the growth of cane, that may be so 
easily reclaimed, and benefit so many of our own strug- 
gling people at so much less cost to the nation? 

Florida has teiTitory sufficient to make the sugar of the 
world, and can be reclaimed at a moiety of the cost incur- 
red in reclaiming lands not half so valuable in other 
countries, Holland, for instance. 

Citrus County embraces a large quantity of rich sugar 
land, and is destined to give employment to a dense popu- 
lation. These lands are not alone adapted to cane, but 
equally well to rice, cabbage and Irish potatoes. These 
elevated hammocks interspersing the broad expanse of 
saw grass seem placed where they are for the habitation 
of men who will eventually be engaged in the cultivation 
of these crops. 

COVE BEND. 

A body of high lands, hammock and pine, ch'efly the 
latter. This is one of the most favored spots in the State. 
Many circumstances contributing to make it attractive. 
The peculiar location adapts it in a wonderful degree to 
successful growth of oranges, lemons and rane crops. The 
lake north and west and the Withlacoochee river south 
and east, envelops it in a warm shield of atmosphere on 
cold nights, and protects it from the damaging effects of 
the low temnerature elsewhere. The river, many miles 
further south flows out of broad lakes and savannahs, 
that absorb the warm rays of the sun in mid-day, which 
warmth is not lost until it reaches the Gulf, but imported 
along its banks, thus modifying the temperature. JIany 
magnificent groves are found here, and an enterprising, 
industrious and moral people reside here. 

West of Tvtarhntta lies the high Inn^Ts of Rose Hill, 
Fooks* Hill and Stage Pond; a splen<lid country, inhabit- 
ed by a thriftv and moral people. There is no better sec- 
tion in the State. 



318 
FAIRMOUNT. 

Here can be seen what can be done on poor pine land. 
Thousands can find peaceful homes in this section, and 
with the same energy and common sense, create happy 
homes. 

It is fine fun to enjoy the pleasures of the coast and 
isles, but Fairmount will alwajs be a haven from insects 
and stiff breezes. The population of Fairmount is chiefly 
from the No-rth, and a law abiding and industrious people 
— that character of cit-V.ens that would make Oases in 
the Desert of Sahara. 

Four miles east of Fairmount. and in the heart of the 
h-'ghlandis, nestles the neighborhood of 

LECANTO. 

There is not a more thrifty settlement of farmers in the 
country than resides here. They can and do produce all 
field crops in an abundance, besides they have some of the 
most luxurient orange groves to be found. 

Here grows the peach in profusion. The wagons going 
down in "peach and blackberry time" reminds one of the 
time when the Israelites went down into Egypt for corn. 

MANNFIELD, 

High up in the hills, clustering around a lake, and peopled 
bv industrious settlers mostly from the Northern and 
Western States. 

Running north from Mannfield to South Dunnellon is 
a country almost unwitnessing of civilization. High hills 
and splendid pine timber awaiting the ''iron horse" to sup- 
ply the world with the famous curly pine lumber so much 
in demand for ornamental building. 

This se tion is free from lakes and ponds, with few ex- 
ceptions; and embraces some magnificent lands. The 
thoughtful settler may find substantial reasons why he 
should locate here. No sensible man will willingly take 
his fannly into n location where thev would pine and fade 
away in his sight. In these high hills, purified by the 
Bait atmosphere from the Gulf, and perfumed with the 
odor of the pine forest, health is guaranteed. 



319 

Sanitariums may here be erected where the consump- 
tive and asthmatic may hnd certain relief, unless almost 
dead when they arrive.' 

In this section are found Vienna, Orleans, Lecanto, 
Mannfield, Rooks, Rosehill, Stajge Pond, Pine Level, and 
other points equally as attractive, naturally. On some of 
the lofty hills, one can look away for miles upon the 
green sea of rolling pine forest, land first class, held by 
speculators. On the tops of some of the loftiest hills 
may be found pretty lakelets, and springs burst out of the 
sides of the hills, but the lakes Miaintain their ordinary 
level. 

STAGE POND 

Is on the north end of the famous Annutaliga hammock, 
and embraces a large scope of the fine pine lands of Cirrus 
County. Hundreds of farms might be opened up here 
and be made to contribute to the support of futuie genera- 
tions. At present but a small portion of this section, 
comparatively, has been cleared and cultivated. 

FLORAL CITY. 

Is located on the banks of the Charla Apopka lake (more 
cori*ectly written Tsala Apopka, Seminole for trout lake) 
in townhsip 20, south, range 20 east, sections 14 and 15, 
and famous for the abundance of nourishing groves and 
hard rock phosphate of high grade. 

INVERNESS. 

It is located in township 19. south of range 20, east, in 
sections 17 and 18 ; regularly laid off, platted and map re- 
corded in clerk's office. No spot on the i n'"'".i:ul. tin •''■hh h 
it is located, can be said to be more eligible for a town 
site, none more suitable for the county s'te. 

Inverness hns all the ad van tastes of oth^r I'l^-r- ipoioTis 
in an eminent degree, as for instance, good I'jnds, beiuti- 
ful sheets of ( If^nr wnt^r. lakes crowrlo i wi'^ titr* '".riv 
tribe, splendid stretches for rrj^attas and pleasure siilirg, 
besides it po-^sesses the grand advantage of lining peo'iled 
by a law-abidir^g and educated population who manifest 



330 

a disposition to embelish their homes and make them at- 
tractive and home like. 

Inverness is on the through line from Tampa to Savan- 
nah, Silver Springs, Ocala and Gulf railroad, now under 
the management of the Atlantic Coast Line. 

rnOSPIIATE HOCK 

Abounds more abundantly in Citrus than any other coun- 
ty in the whole State, proportionately to the area of the 
county. 

Ihe line enters the county at South Dunnellon and ex- 
tends through its entire length, varying from one to five 
miles in width. 

Th3re is practically an unlimited quantity of hard rocIS: 
phosphate now being mined in many places. Em])loy- 
ment is given to a large number of employes. Notwith- 
standing the vast quantity already mined there are many 
rich mines yet untouched. No one knows, even approxi- 
mately, the amount yet to be marketed. 

One interesting feature of the phosphate industry in 
Citrus County, as in other counties, where the rock 
abounds, is Ihat, no matter how stringent the money mat- 
ters may become in other sections of the country, here is 
a product that will command gold, giving her people em- 
ployment and always keep money in circulation. 

If you are tired of the blizzards of the North and wish 
to bask in the eternal sunshine; if you wish to tlce from 
the cyclone-swept section further North and dwell where 
homes have never been devastated by nuid winds; if you 
are languishing in the inexorable grasp of disease of the 
lungs or throat, if you would enjoy the advantages of a 
temperate clime, good health and good hufd, where ex- 
tremes of tem])erature are unknown; if you wish to live 
where you can enjoy your otium cum dignatate under 
jour own vine and fig tree, within easy rea( h of the Culf, 
in a tv/o hours ride; if you wish to lounge itlly beneath 
the live oak, watching the sea gulls lazily scudding before 
the M'ind, or the porpoise sporting midst the countless 
schools of mullets; if you desire to try your hand nt the 
gamest ft"=^h on earth; if you wish to cultivate oysters, 
ehnse depr, cuff Bruin, in short, if you desire to find the 
«pring of perpetual youth and the ne plus ultra of a home 



321 

land, then come to Citrus; Citrus the highland county; 
Citrus, where McGregor will rejoice, as on his native 
heath. 

TO THE WIDE WORLD. 

Our portals are open to all law-abiding people under 
the sun. We cordially invite you to come and assure you 
you shall be welcome, whether you bring money or brawn 
to devote your whole energy to the upbuilding of society 
«ind the advancement of civilization. 

On the contrary, to the idle and vicious; to those who 
only seek a section where they may float on the people, 
subsistirig on their generous hospitality, we would say 
seek elsewhere. 

The principal crops produced in this county in 1902 
were as follows : 

Value. 

Corn, bushels, 64,490 |64,490 

Oats, bushels, 16,180 " 10.015 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 57,150 29,685 

Field peas, bushels, 16,770 16,770 

Peanuts, bushels, 9,290 9,290 

Velvet beans, bushels, 25,420 25,420 

Syrup, barrels, 1,079 11,160 

Irish potatoes, bushels, 15,320 18,970 

Cabbages, barrels, 50.290 79,350 

Tomatoes, crates, 9.360 10.490 

Oranges, crates, 2,860 6,965 

Peaches, bushels, 5,540 7,910 

And the followinsr live stock on hand: 

Horses, number, 603 60 300 

Mules, number, 497 49.900 

Stock cattle, numbpr, 9,580 50.'^30 

Hogs, number, 14,310 14,310 

21 H P 



CLAY COUNTY. 

Is bounded on the north by Duval, south by Putnam, 
cast by the St. John river, and on the west by Hradford 
county. In area it has 622 square miles of land surface, 
or 398,080 acres. In 1890 its populativm was 5,1.54, ana 
in 1900 it was 5,635, of which 3,803 were white and 1.832 
were colored. At end of school term of 1901 it sup 
ported 49 schools. 42 of which were whites nnd 7 colored. 

Clay county offers to the homes?eker a healthy, salu- 
brious climate, an opi>ortiinity to secure a home at j)ri(es 
within the reach of the humbiest workman; a qrick, s-ife 
means of transporting the fruits of Iv's labors to the 
markets of the world, either by rail or by water; an abun- 
dant supply of the purest water furnished by overflowing 
springs. There is no better water supply to be feund ii» 
the State. 

The soil is suitable for all kinds of crops, including 
rich hammock lands alon<f the rivrrs and streairs roll- 
ing sand-hill lands ^between the many creeks, as well ^s 
the moist black lands adjoining the hammock Itinds. 
These latter lands are the preference of tha inarkpt gar- 
dener, and the enormous crops of ve«:etable'3 and b'^rr'ps 
grown upon them is almost incredible. The sand hill 
lands are best adaoted to fruit growing, although general 
farming is also followed. Especially is the pear, peach, 
and grape at home on thpse lands, n^id the larsre ^hin- 
ments of fruit sent to market from thi«' county attest to 
its productiveness. The hammork lands rro suita^il« for 
any crop the owner chooses to plant upon them, f nd fort- 
unate indeed is the possessor of a fine tract of liammock 
lands. Of the many vegetables grown hpr^. we v^i<r}\x: 
mention as the leading croTis the pwe^t notato. »r'=^'^ t>o. 
tato, cabbage, beets, onions, lettuce, turnios. rutabaggas. 
and others are also extensively grown. Melons rr? an 
unfailing crop, and usi-nilv l.-^st from •Fu'^" uit'1 O tob^i.. 
Berr»es, such rs strawberrie**. huckleberries, and black- 
berr'c«. y'eld abunf'PTitly. Of field croro. enrn. oats, cot- 
ton. r>'i1'ot nn^l pi"'""nr o^tt^ jit" f^'^ l"P''"»^g one". 

Green Cove Springs is the county seat. Tt is beauti- 

numbers nearly 1200 people. Fa« n hau'^so'iio b-?."k 
court I'.ouse and jail, has five (hnrcho'?, viz.: Presliyter'an, 



323 

Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, and Catholic; also Baptist 
church at Hickory Grove and the Methodist at Spring 
Bank are all churches for the white population. The 
coloied people have also four churches — Methodist and 
Baptist. 

A tine two story school building of sufticient size, to 
accun>iuodate 301! pupiis for whites and a two story builxi- 
ing for the colored children where seven months sessions 
are held gives the young of both classes an opportunity 
to secure an excellent education. 

MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS. 

The Clay County Brick Works with a capacity of 
30,000 brick per day makes a splendid article of brick, 
as their orders testify. It is almost impossible to keep 
op with their orders. 

The Burroughs-Eddy Lumber Company, with a capac- 
ity of 15.000 to 20,000 feet of lumber per day, is doing 
a splendid business. 

Also the Gresn Cove Lumber Company with a capac- 
ity equal to any in the vicinity. 

A new hard wood mill engaged in the manufacture of 
everything in the hard wood line. A fine field for opera- 
tions in this line is open to enterprising people. 

HOTELS AND BOARDING HOUSES. 

Magnolia Hotel with a capacity of 600 guests, with its 
fine sulphur spring, golf ground, electric light plant, icd 
plant and beautified grounds is one of the finest winter 
bote's in the State. 

Hotel St. Elmo is another popular winter hotel — ca* 
pacity 100 guests. 

Clarenden Cottage is another winter resort of old time 
fame. 

Riverside Hote'., one of the "open all year ronnd" ho- 
tels, enjoys a good trade. 

The Tyler House, is decidedly popular with the trareW 
ing nnblic and ^njovf 9 <r<>o'l tr-t'V. 

Home Cottage, a winter rooming house, is very popular 

Tl'o Brann'ng boarding houpo, is open all year roumi, 
enjoys a good patronag?. 



324 

FRUITS. 
« 
Pears, peaches, plums, grapes, persimmons (Japan) 
are extensively growL and shipped to the northern 
markets. 

VEGETABLES. 

Among the many vegetables grown to perfection in 
this county is celery. Thousands of acres of the low 
rich lands are especially adapted to the growth of this 
plant. 

In the western portion of the county it is claimed, and 
is probable, that no place in Florida has acquired any 
greater reputation on account of the quality of fruit Jt 
produces than the western part of this county. It is also 
claimed for that section adjacent to the Santa Fee Lake 
that there is something in the soil and climate that pe- 
culiarly adapts it to the highest development of the 
peach in all its essentials of appearance, flavor, etc. But 
the isoil here, a sandy loam, is not unlike that found iu 
any section of the western half of the county, and the 
climate so far as one can judge is that only which be- 
long to its parelel in latitude. So it is probable that the 
beauty and excellence of the fruit grown here are due to 
the assiduous study of the subject and the superior 
knowledge of the growers, rather than 'to any dominent 
adaptation of the soil or climate. Be that as it may, the 
fact remains and is undisputed, that a scope of country 
in this section, is the head center of the fancy peach bus- 
iness for this county and is destined to be for the State. 

As its advantages are suitable lands in abundance, 
ample transportation facilities, and a genial climate 
well tempered by abundant water courses. These waters 
furnish the settlers with abundance of the finest fresh 
water fish at all seasons of the year. Melons do excep- 
tionally well on this sandy so!l. 

Some farmers raise melons for a business, and they 
make q good income. A nearby mark9t is not absolutely 
neee«'sary, if enough will go into the business to ship m 
car lots. Greneral farming in this section, while not the 
best in the State, can ofler advantages not to be had in 
the flat or low land sections. These advantages can be 



825 

Bunimed np in the way of good henHh. Its practical im- 
munity from malaria, and its iiever failing water supply. 

We have but one physician'in a radias of 25 miles, and 
he has to supplement his living with other work. This 
speaks conclusively for the Lealth of this section (the 
only trouble being that deaths are so seldom that people 
are inclined to forget the fact that they have got to die 
anyway). With all, we have a good quiet lawabiding 
class of people, with as good church and school privileges 
as any other section of the country. 

Brooklyn and Melrose are the only towns in this sec- 
tion of the county, but there are several post offices, near 
enough together that any farmer can get his mail by a few 
minutes ride. Brooklyn, a small town on the G. S. & F. 
R. R., is famous as a strawberry shipping point, and ^3 
destined some day to be noted as a mining point, as some 
of the finest beds of chalk clay or kaolin to be found in 
the State \je in close proximity thereto, and is already 
beginning to attract the attention of capital. 

Melrose is a town of a winter population of about 70t>, 
is situated on Lake Santafee and has water transporta- 
tion from Waldo on the S. A. L, R. R. Has good hotels, 
schools and churches of the various denominations. Mc- 
Rae, Lake Side and Kingsley are the other post offices 
and settlementj!, which only await transportation facil- 
ities and a few more wideawake citizens to make them 
thriving settlements. 

The principal products of the county for 1902 were aa 
follows : 

Value. 

Sea Island cotton, bags, 422 f 6.629 

Com, bushels, 8.211 15.62t> 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 32,115 16.529 

Syrup, barrels, 5.^8 3,172 

Strawberries, quarts, 43,895 11,190 

Peaches, bushels, 1.746 1,821 

Grapes, pounds, 22,850 72« 

Wine, gallons, 1,750 1,695 



326 

Also live stook on hand as follows: 

Horses, uumber, 5155 . ... .- 22,945 

Mules, iiiimbor, oo 2,171 

Stock cattle, iiuml)er, 7,971 41,648 

Sheep, mimber, l,0(li) 1,1)84 

Hogs, number, 4,458 4,463 

Toultry all kinds, uumbor 13,047 4,409 



COLUMBIA COUNTY. 

Its area in square miles of land surface is 792, or 
606,880 acres. 

Its {x)pulation in 1890 was 12,877, and in 1900, it wa» 
17,094, of whi( h number 7,773 were white, and 9,321 were 
negroes. At the end of the school term of 1901, it had a 
total of 84 schools, of which 54 were white and 30 were 
colored. 

Columbia County unquestionably possesses, uniquelj 
and intrinsically, some points of advantages over any 
other of the many favored counties of our one and unriv- 
alled Florida. Chief among these are. its situation, the 
fertile and varied character of its soils, the great abund- 
ance and divei^sity of its products, its average altitude, 
its unchallenged healthfulness, and, now not least, the 
extent of its social and civil development . 

While so far north that nearly all the ordinary fruits of 
the '*up country" are reproduced and enjoyed here in pro- 
fusion, it is yet so far south as to secure all the advan- 
tages and delights of the peninsula climate, even to the 
conditions necesisary to the successful production of most 
of the semi-tropical fruits, so almost entirely relied upon 
further south ; while, at the same time, its field and gar- 
den products embrace nearly every important staple of 
the country at large; in fact, the temperate and the tropi- 
^cal meet here, the aubstantiala of the former and luxuries 
of the latter springing from the same soil. 

Geographically considered, this county liws* nearly mid- 
way between the eighty-second and eighty-third desT^es 
erf longitude west, beiP(g about twentv-five miles in width, 
and extends from a line some thirty-five minutes north of 



S27 

the thirtieth de}:^ee of latitude to oie about fifteen mia- 
tites south of same, a length of about forty niileH, so that 
in fihaoe it is an oblong area. It is bounded on the north 
by the Georgia State line, Hamilton County and the Hu- 
wannee River; cm the east by Baker, Bradford and Ala- 
chna counties and the Sante Fe River, Olustee Creek form- 
ing, also, a portion of the dividing line; on the south by 
Bradford and Alachua counties, and the Santa Fe River 
separating; on the west by Suwannee and IJamilton 
counties, separated from the latter by the Suwannee 
River. The Ichetucknee River marks, also, a portion of 
its sout western boundary. This is a stream of marvel- 
ous springs and beautiful scenery, the waters as crystallj 
and wonderfully clear as those of the famous Silver 
Spring of the lower mid-peninsula. Up this, the Santa 
Fe and Suwannee, the f-alt v/atcr fish from the Gulf make 
their way in grent numbers to the southern borders of the 
county, where they are taken at pleasure, with the fresh 
water varieties. 

Lake City, the county seat, which occupies an approxi- 
mately central position, is lifty-nine miles west of Jack- 
Bonville, on the Western Division of the Seaboard Air 
Line system of roads, and about 100 miles east of Talla- 
hassee, the State capital, by the same line. It is a cen- 
tral point also, with the Atlantic Coast Line system, amd 
for the Georgia Southern and Florida, in which facilities 
the county is unusually well served. 

Throughout all its fruitful, undulating length and 
breadth it is also excellently watered, either by bright 
running streams and bubbling springs of pure, cool 
liquid or crystal lakes and lakelets; besides which natural 
fountains so numerously placed in easy reach, the best 
water is abundantly obtained, by diggirij; or driving, at a 
depth of from twelve to fifty feet, so th^t this may justly 
lay claim also to that all-important distinction — "a well 
watered section." 

These lakes and streams all teem with the choicest of 
our fresh water fishes — the bream, perch, pickerel and 
bass — make a favorite haunt of the wild wntcr fowl in 
season, and afford among them some very fine y)ower8, 
which, in many instances, await yet to be utijirod. 
Wherever there are running streams, in fact — and fre- 
quently between the lakes, elevated one above another — 



. 32« 

good heads of water may be ohIniiKMl for economic pur- 
poses, including irrigation; and, occasionally, the naturnl 
fall has done everything but put the requisite machinery 
in position and operation. 

SOILS AND TKODUCTS. 

The soils of Columbia County embrace almost every 
variety known to the State and latitude, the more fertile 
and desirable predominating over a large portion of its 
area; and hence, in part, the great quantity and diversity 
of its productions. These, which will be specially con- 
sidered later on, include cotton, both the short and long 
staple, (Sea Island), though the latter is almost exclu- 
isively cultivated, on account of its great superiority and 
the materially better price obtained for it; corn, whi(h is 
produced in abundance, and of equal size and quality 
with that grown anywhere; tobacco, which compares and 
competes* with the Cuban and Sumatran articles; sugar 
cane and rice, to compare with the products of the ])lan- 
jfations of Louisiana, Georcria or Carolina, both in yield 
and quality; potatoes, Irish and sweet; beans, tomatoes, 
okra ; stock, table and English peas ; cabbage, cucumbers 
and vegetables of every de'^criotion ; peanuts, melons of 
all kinds, and, in fact, about every familiar production of 
field, grove, j^arden or orchard. In fruits we have the 
peach, numerouisi varieties in the greatest quantitv and of 
the utmost excellence; pears, plums, fi^s, pomegranates, 
xjuince, apricot, Japan plums and nersimmons; grapes, in 
great variety and unrivalled yield. Strawberries and 
other small fruits do well and yield readv and amnle re- 
turns. The blackberry, whortleberry, mulberry and other 
wild, or undomesticated fruits, are found on every hand 
in lavish distribution and are free for the gatherin.?. Pe- 
cans, walnuts, hickory nuts, chinauer>ins. eic, conclude 
the lists — here only partially elaborated, however. 

For, indeed, nature has been most prodigal in her good 
gifts to us, so that there is really no crop grown in the 
S'outh which may not also be successfully produepd in 
this county; and a<! she has also placed in our is^ils all 
the elements of fertility, onlv averajre care and skill and 
moderate industry are required quickly and easily to 



329 

establish here as happy and attractive homes as the 
world knows. 

Our forests are extensive. And here their natural 
growths, like our lists of cultivated productions, are as 
abundant and varied as the generous soils from which 
they spring. Yellow pine is the predominating timber 
tree, both as regards quantity and industrial and mercan- 
tile importance, though there is almost an exhaustless 
supply of cypress. The hammocks, which are usually 
lygh and dry, and which cover thousands of acres, contain 
hickory, beech, i>oplar, magnolia, red bay, live oak, water 
oak, cedar, sweet and black gums, and, in fine, about all 
the important hardwood trees, and in most abundant sup- 
ply. Florida, it is known, contains a greater per cent. 
of the classified woods than any other State of the Union; 
and Columbia County probably yields individually a 
greater number of these than any other one county in 
Florida. 

The lake shores, vacant lands and open woods afford a 
fine pasturage for cattle, stock, hogs, sheep, etc. ; and all 
domestic animals, poultry included, exhibit everywhere a 
healthful and prolific thrift. 

The county is well served by public highways radiating 
from the county seat and ramifying every section, even 
to the most obscure locality; and by railroads, as we have 
seen. Its southern border is the head of navigation for 
boats on the Santa Fe and Suwannee rivers. It is dotted 
thickly over with numerous thrifty settlements, postoffice 
villages and farming communities, of each of which sepa- 
rately and duly in place. The interstitial areas are rapi- 
dly developing, many new settlers finding therein pleas- 
ant and profitable homes. 

The best of social order everywhere prevails. There 
are schools, churches. Masonic lodges, alliance organiza- 
tions, etc., at easy distances throughout the county. 
Stores, smithies, mills and gins contribute to the con- 
venience of every neighborhood, and the new-comer does 
not have here to enter upon the hardships and privations 
of a frontier life. The fi'ontiersman has already passed 
on before, leaving his good works behind him— the way 
smooth for those who now come after. 

And immigration is desired. Tnadenuacy of population 
and capital are about the only difficulties that now pre- 



»30 • _;^i 

sent themselves; and it is to the end of enlistijag these 
that the facts herein presented are placed before the pub- 
lic. The fieW and the indscements are ample for both, 
as probably no one country combines quite so many natu- 
ral attractions and advantaiges, or many more of the 
acquired. But there are thousands of fertile acres 
around us unfilled and unredeemed from the natural 
state that should be teeming with the fruits of an intelli- 
gent application of honest labor. On every hand unde- 
veloped possibilities that only await the electric touch «of 
life-giving capital. Both are invited; and aid and wel- 
come are guaranteed all who become of us. 

HEALTH AND CLIMATE. 

The unchallenged reputation for peculiar healthfulnesa 
so long enjoyed by and everywhere accorded to Columb'U 
County and her towns and villages, is an individual point 
so particularly favorable, ever here in salubrious Florida, 
that it is both pardonable and proper to place espe.ial 
stress thereon, as this matter of health is one of prii'jj.ry 
interest and vital importance, more to the permanent 
home-seeker, if possible, than even to the invalid visitor 
or tourist, whose interests in any one locality may be 
only transient at best. 

And it was in deliberate and careful investigation of 
this point, that the Board of Trustees, (in its personae! 
representing every portion of the peninsula), of the Flor- 
ida State Agricultural and Mechanical College, (now the 
University of Florida), at a meeting held in TaDahassee 
in February, 1883, for the purpose of finally locating this 
important institution of learning, after a thorough can- 
vass of the claims and real advantages of various com- 
peting points, unanimously elected in favor of Lake City, 
our county seat, pursuant to the language of the statute 
directing that it be located "at some healthy and conven- 
ient place near the center of the State." The conscien- 
tiousness of this step has never been impnigned; nor has 
its wisdom been assailed, even from th0 partisan stand- 
point of rivalry ; or is it ever likely to be brought into 
question by any matter of fa' t that may possibly arise. 

Neither the county as a whole, nor any locality within 
it, has ever been visited by an epidemic of any infectious 



331 

or contagions disease; and we are far removed from the 
districts where sucli may have prevailed in years past. 
In which connection it is well to consider that Florida is 
a State of ^'magnificent distances" — at its upper part 500 
miles from Gulf to Atlantic, and about the same stretch 
from the Georgia line to its southernmost cape. Scarlet 
and typhus fevers, diphtheria and the like, are unknown. 
The local disorders, to which all portions of the world 
are subject in greater or less degree, are here isually of a 
mild type, yielding readily to proper treatmeut. Indeed, 
it is a fact much rmarked upon, that disease )f every na- 
ture seems robbed of tis more virulent eharacteristica 
here. 

Topographically considered, with referemce to its posi- 
tion as relating to the peninsula at large, this county oc- 
cupies a conspicuous ridge about midway between the 
Gulf of Mexico on the west and the Atlantic ocean on the 
east; and aside from the fact that the highest points of 
elevation known to the State are marked within its area, 
(in the vicinity of Lake City), its climate is constantly 
subject to the modifying influences of the health-giving 
airs that forever alternate between these two great ex- 
panses of salt water; and no one can imagine or describe 
the subtle softness^n the touch of these south winds — 
bracing sea breezes that through the vast areas of bal- 
samic pine come and go, from sea to gulf and gulf to sea, 
melting into iwothing indescribable, and gathering and 
giving the resinous, ozonic exhalations as healing from 
their wings. The advantage of these pine-scented and 
balm-laden sea-airs, the value of which will be acknowl- 
edg and explained by any conscientious and intelligent 
physician, is obtained here in full merit without the too 
frequently present attendant of an unproductive soil. 

TEMPERATURE. 

So in regard to temperature; the same influences find 
play; and, while our winters are usually open and spring- 
like throughout, our summers, on the other hand, are tem- 
pered below that excessive degree of heat so trying in 
many localities of even higher latitudes. To be specific, 
the thermometer seldom ripes to ninety-six degrees in sum- 
mer, and as rarely falls below thirty-two degrees in win- 



332 

ter. The average of temperature, by actual record of the 
United States Signal Service, of the former season may 
he placed at eighty degrees, and of the latter at sixty de- 
grees — for the year, seventy degrees — the ideal mean — 
which will never appear upon investigation to be very far 
from the actual conditions. 

There are occasional days in summer, to be sure, when 
the meridian sun grows rather ardent, but the kindly ser- 
vices of a cooling breeze may always be found within the 
inviting shades. The nights are almost invariably cool 
and pleasant, covering to the extent of a blanket usually 
being necssary to perfect comfort, which, again, is 
conducive to refreshing and healthful slumber; and all 
this while much of the population further north, in penc- 
up far inland regions, is complaining of the "intolerable 
heat;" a fact often remarked upon, in surprise and de 
liffht, by those who experience summer here for the first 
time. 

So in winter. There are days, and especially evenini^s 
and mornings, sufficiently cool to bring out in full appre- 
ciat'on the enjoyments of a cheerful blaze upon the 
hearth, or the glowir^g bpd of embers left behind ; and we 
would not have it otherwise. 

Neither do we claim to be "below t|ie frost line." Nor 
do we want to be. For that means under the sod or out 
of Florida. BesirVs, we insist that a little frost and a 
few cr^'sD morninirs are necessary to a perfect degree of 
healthfulness, both in the animal and vegetable organisms. 
The former it braces and strengthens acainst the relaxing 
influences, the la^jsitude and enerA^ation of a perpetual 
summer. The latter it keeps free of insect enemies and 
blights. It is death to malaria and mellowness to 
fruits, inclndinjr the orancre, which everybody knows are 
heH "after frost falls." Even ice ocasionally forms. But 
neither are often seen before December or later than Jan- 
uary. And, really, there is no more frost here in mid- 
winter than at the North in September and May, and in- 
jurious frosts seldom occur. 

The atmosphere, as a rule, is dry and bracing, free from 
the rawness of the coast or the dampness of the river re- 
gions; though there are also rainv davs. and cloudy ones; 
and our summer "rainy season" is always welcomed as 
one of especially cool and pleasant days and nights. By 



333 

the same records again, though, there are actually a 
greater number of bright days in Florida than any other 
JSlate of the Union, though sometimes the annual ramfall 
will be forty to sixty inches, or even more, which is ren- 
dered nec-essary by the porous character of our soil, which 
rapidly absorbs the surplus. Most of this falls in sum- 
mer, when it is most needed; and our winters are, in 
great part, a mere continuation of Indian summer. 

In no portion of the county are insects of any species 
especially troublesome, and there are more poisonous rep- 
tiles to the square mile in almost any JNorthern State 
no more thickly settled. The old snake scare is a myth 
here, and a large "rattler" is a curiosity when found. A 
fatality from such a cause has never been known in this 
part of the country. Gnats, mosquitos and house flies, 
though sometimes present, never become the plague they 
do in some sections, and by many here a net has never 
been used or found necessary. 

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. 

The county's yellow pine timber and hard wood sup- 
plies, as already hinted, are practically inexhaustible. 
The extensive hammocks embrace in their yield almost 
every known wood of the country, while the vast forests 
of pine, as already shown, still cover a great portion of 
the area. Aside from the cutting of lumber, the output 
of naval stores, which includes the production of turpen- 
tine, rosin, pitch, tar, etc., is now largely developed. 
Throughout the county are numerous mammoth sawmills, 
working under both domestic and foreign contracts, utiliz- 
ing a great deal of labor, employing large capital, disburs- 
ing and putting into circulation a great deal of money for 
wages, supplies, etc., and billing throui^ih our depots an- 
nually millions of feet of the sawn product, which goes to 
give some idea of the value of our pine, cypress and hard- 
wood forests, aside from the worth of the land after these 
are taken off. 

These, in fact, are two of our most gicrantic and profita- 
ble industries, and their products are shioped to all onrts 
of the world, and at home put into building and finishing 
materials of all kind, a good deal of whith are also ship- 
ped to other points. 



334 

TIm'ip ;iro iM()<1 (it'cniiirs v't r<i'' invpsfnipnt \v these 
anrl iiiJU'v otiior li'^es, esTiPcinlly in rooperir^ estab'iish- 
me'^ts. in utilize nltrost free the \JiPt supplies of cypress 
and l-iTidrpd woods; furniture mid cabinet enterprises for 
the ninnnfacture of tine furniture, etc., from our be.Tut:fu! 
nat've bard woods, many of wbi( h are found very superior 
in fine cabinet work ; cotton factories, fibre and wool fac- 
tories, ciirnr factor-'es and tobicco-packinjj bouses; sasb, 
door and blind factories, brick yar'^s. and tanneries to 
work u]> the ^rcat supoly of liidfs monthly shipoed away; 
other wr^d-workirff establishments of various kin'^s. 

And to the fore<?oin^ may be added, also, the following, 
as exhibitincr in the arvirecate the chief induements to 
mnnufa<turers in this section: Good, reliable, cheap, 
etronu: labor; cheap and abundant fuel or amnle water 
pressure; the mild c haracter of the climate, and the every- 
wherp. in ca«!e of steam power, abundant snpply of wa- 
ter pnfirply free from all the corrosive and incrusting 
qualities so troublesome and costly in some sections. Our 
pure, soft waters leave no scale in boilers, and tbe atmos- 
phere is not destructive to mar h'nery, while the evenness 
of temperature preclndes all that loss and waste of 
coMer regions; and there is never any trouble from freez- 
ing T>ipes — on the whole a meeting of conditions most fav- 
orable to manufa' turing interests of every description. 

CHARACTER OF LANDS. 

T])P lands of ('olumbia County may very properly be 
dividpr? into two general or primary classes — pme and 
hammock. 

And thpsp two treneral or primary divisions are capable 
of <-"h f^Mision into three secondary or subordinate classes 
each, viz : 

I. IMne — And Mst) or'^inary high, roll'ng pine, more 
or less sandy, and but tnodo^'ntplv nrodnrtivp, yet re- 
smndipo- ie;"d''v to int'»l!'"-'^nt tiHapre and liberal fertiliz- 
ir"': eif T^ninpofio^od hca'thfulnpss. rrnsidered from the 
etandpoint of pprpeT,.j| nccui^ancy; (2). plpvted-lcvpl or 
pi"f"nr r>'>o: rt-raHv rf-^h f^nd'morp T»ro''uctive, with soil 
darker and of closer co*^sis*"rcA-; r^^PiTf?''** of T"'>i«'ture 

eral agricnltural piirposes; and most of ihe: rolling or 



3^5 

broken pine latu?s of tliis stM-flon j)*'i'tako of the rliarac- 
teristits of this; thev are all usually well watered by 
running s'lrmiis. lakes, etc.; (3), low or "flat woods" 
pine; in some instances wet. with wire-orass an'l unlnietto 
growths, and then urincipally valuable for timber pro- 
duct^ or «attle rar«o;ps; otherwise, and as a rub, highly 
valuable as fju-nrng b'^ds; the soil is usually closo, and 
they are healthy in T)fM"rt of residoTice. as are nearly .'ill 
the pine lan('s of Florida, and m<'st of all < haracters in 
this (()Mrt\-. T1hp° ai*' a'! covered with a heavy growth 
of '•Io"p--!raf" rr yel'ow luv^ fin ber. now of so mudi im- 
portau'e "n the luu'bpr markets of the world. 

2, ppnnvo«k--.^Ti,i. M?f), hi"h hammock: (2), low 
han»T»o'k: (Hd). "lijrhf' and ""^arV" hammock, whi(h may 
be tho o^i^r'pi for of p'ther of the other two. 

T^e '\'irk hammncks are consi >red l!»'re. as elsewhere 
in Flor'da. the be-^t ^^^d n'o^^t '>oirahle in all resoecta for 
purT)Oses of general a'^ruulture. as they are naturally the 
mc^t fpr^^i''^ f'-^d '»rodnft*\o. ( ovresT'onf'ing to th*» rich 
prairi*^ a^d alluvinl l^'^r'v of oth^r (sectors. They are 
80 caPpd fv^ryy f}p dark ' olor of their soil, whuh varies 
from a snn^'bro^'P +o n !>T»'»"-ii.M;»f.ir n^^ in fovfnT*" f-v)i\i 
in the color and nature of its soil, which is frequently re- 
Ioo<=e loamy to tena< ions, bniiig. in many instances, *nter- 
miyp ' or underlaid with « '-w or clayey marls. The best 
of this class reeds no fertili''i"jr, and retains its high 
productive oualit'es u^dor indefitiite rullivation. there 
being a grppt deal in this countv now as goo'1 as ever 
after a co^^ti'mors cult'vj't'on of from twenty-five t" ilfty 
years. vVI'i-g still f"l| standard crops of cotton, corn, 
cane, tob^teco, or anyth'ng el«e. without fertili-^ers. 

Next in value to the dark hammocks are the better 
grade of piie lands, which, in many instances, are but I't 
tie irfor'ov. I>ow bau'it'ock. as Ir^'^e mentioned, ripve? 
means wet. but 9inM;Iv a'u>l'e'=5 to that nearest the inbind 
water levels, and us^villy of more even surface, in co'iira- 
distiri ti'>" t-^ tb<» '^i'h i-o'Imig han>mo<'k«9. where t''e»' i-'se 
out of "U'^ '•'^11 J<Pfk p"ft '-•> F'.^^.M 'ho. fov'*--^" ;■>'<• .o fiie 
lake !^borf«' and streau's. These lands are all well wa- 
fpv- ^ i>v r'»->v i-MPinrc- ^tr'N-inis ard numerous sparking 

gppJnjrre 

The light, grey, or sandy hammock, by any of which 
terms it i« kpown, di'lVis ontv.arflly from the ofhrr onlv 



336 

duced to a veritable "pepper-and-salt" complexion, by 
the intermixture of a large preponderance of coarse, white 
sand with a loosely held vegetable humus, which, alter 
the land is denuded of its forest growth and the soil (\> 
prived of its accustomed shade, is quickly exhausted or 
eliminated under cultivation and by the chemical iullu- 
ence of the summer sun, leaving behind little but th»^ 
sand; though at first it is as highly productive as it is 
always easJy tilled. Groves or orchards of other trees 
put on as the forest is taken otf, quickly make shade fJK 
the soil again and so continue it in fertility. 

Strangely, too, in their natural state, the forest growibsT 
upon these two classes and characters of hammock Imids, 
which it is of importance to distinguish because of the 
intrinsic difference as to real value, are almost or quite 
identical. Giant water and live oak, stately and dark 
green magnolias, sweet-scented red bay, stalwart hicko- 
ries, beech, maple, poplar, gums and a host of others, 
spring from and densely shade the soils of either. 

The lands of Columbia County are comprised most 
largelj' of two of these six classes — the best class ham- 
mock and better grade pine, which is in great measure the 
secret of her stability and great wealth of varied and sub- 
stantial production. 

The prices of these lands, such as are suitable for farm- 
ing, etc., except immediately in the larger towns, is from 
$3 to $10 per acre. In the immediate vicinity of Lake 
City, from |10 to |75. Two to three and five to six miles 
out, the former price, and so on throughout the county. 
Plenty of cleared and improved lands are to be had at 
th£ prices quoted, or may be leased or rented on easy 
tenns. The cost of clearing, except in the heavier ham- 
mocks, is nominal ; and the timber will do far more than 
the fencing, or wire may be used at small cost. 

Most of the lands in this section are owned by indi- 
viduals, a very fair evidence, especially where so great a 
per cent, is still in the natural state, that their acquisi- 
tion is highly desirable — or at least they are worth 
owning. 



JJ37 
LAKE CITY. 

Lake City is in no sense a "new town." It is a sub- 
stantial place of long established business solidity and 
steady material growth. In 1900 its population was 
4,013. The name dates back to 1859; and twenty years 
earl.er — or during the Seminole war. of 1837 — it was a 
military post then known as "Alligator," and so called by 
the first settlers after the Indian chieftain of that name, 
■who, with his tribes, wns found here in possession of the 
fertile lands and attractive lake shores — the usual site of 
their villages. 

The place is naturally well drained, water from the 
locality shedding to all points of the compass. 

The streets, too, are beautifully shaded by the same 
tall, stately, far-spreading, interweaving, over-arching 
oaks, forming magnificent vistas — Nature's cathedral 
aisles — with tapestry and Jrapery of the t^ray Spanish 
moss, the varied bloom of the gradens, camellia japoTii( as, 
jasmines, roses, myrtles and the many as rare or foliage, 
fruit and flower. And here it is that royal songster of 
the South, our matchless mocking-bird, holds high revel, 
summer and winter, alike in the warm sunlight and the' 
softer radiance of our golden Southern moon — for our 
moonlights are gorgeous, as our sunsets are, baffling de- 
scription, but suffusing sky, earth and water in a varied 
and mellowed glory — effects whi<h make a never-failing 
attraction to all who chance among us. 

There are a considerable number of manufacturing in- 
dustries of various sorts, among them a cotton ginning 
and warehouse company, brick yard, mills adanted to va- 
rious purposes, and near by quarries of building stone, 
phosphate rock, etc. 

The county court house occupies the enclosed center of 
the public square, from which the town radiates a mile in 
all direct'ons. It is a commodious and substantial struc- 
ture, set in a grove of tall oaks, and here the various 
county and city officials and boards have each their of- 
ficp<? and transact thb public businpss. 

There are nnmerons pttT-netiv^ |irvi«o« of woT-^'Mn. f"r). 
re«"Pnting the Baptist, Methodist Episcopal South. Prps- 
byterian. Episcopal, Catholic, and Christian denomina- 

22 H F 



338 

tions, ornament the town. In most of them are held reg- 
ular weekly and Sabbath services, :-.unday schools, pia.ver 
and special meetings, ( hoir practices, etc., and the palpits 
are ably and intiuentiaily filled. There are also several . 
colored churches, representing the various denominations 
among this people, who exhib.t great zeal in religious 
mattei'S. Among all denominations the best of fraternal 
«pa'it prevails. 

Also many of the secret orders, and benevolent and so- 
cial organizations are well represented here. The city 's 
lighted with electricity, and has a complete waterworks 
system and telephone system. Transportation facilities 
are ample and complete. Fifteen to twenty trains arrite 
and depart daily, with nenrly as many mails. It is the 
distributing point for mails to all portions of this county. 
There are ample facilities in the way of telegraph and 
express services. The postoffice is a well conducted 
presidential of the piecond class. 

A great deal more might be justly said favorable to our 
little city, but lack of space prevents, as we must make 
reference to our educational facilities. 

THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. 

(Formerly Florida State Agricultural College.) 

This institution, into an elaborate history of which it 
is rot necessary here to enter, was, as already shown, es- 
tablished at Lake City in 1883, pursuant to the statute 
directing its location *'at some convenient and healthy 
place rear the centre of the State." It has been in suc- 
cessful operation since, anr? now has an attendance of 
about 150 students from nil sections of fh's and various 
other States. It was originally provided for. as in other 
states, out of the public lands .""ranted for this mirpose 
hy the Fnitpd States Oovernment by net of 1862. The 
«uni reali'^ed from the sa'e of paTi^e. with accrued interest 
therfon. row invpsterl in i^terpst-brarinor bonrl^, jr'vps tlie 
institution p Tx>rT>pt"al endowment fund, whi'h can never 
lawfullv b" ''Mnini^hpd for nvy n^ir'^o^'*. r>r /ii'^-i"''^^ r,»i,^ 
f]»o annuni inron^p from ^h^h cnT> ho nepd only for sala- 
ries of T>r'^'c«^r«. To this '<» r\''<^pr\ I'Viorn] r^nTi^'O'ir'a- 
tions by the Legislature, ex])Pnded so f'^r in extensive ira- 



•AIM 

provements, equipraents and accessories. Besides which, 
the 115,000 annually appropriated by the General Govern- 
ment for the maintenance of the Florida A.gricaltural Ex- 
periment fetation, under the provisions of the Hatch act, 
is expended in connection therewith, whith thus may be 
«aid to enjoy from all sour( es a yearly income of about 
1^30,000. This latter institution, with its own substantial 
and valuable improven:ents. occupies the fine lamis of the 
collpge farm, comprising some 120 acres, with numeroua 
Bprings, runs, lake privileges, etc. The situation of the 
college buildings, about half a mile south of the public 
square and town centre, is most eligible and sightly, over- 
looking four beautiful lakes, the largest several miles in 
extent. The surroundings are naturally attractive, and 
well and ornamentally improved; the prospect including, 
elevated, sloping grounds, oaks, magnolias, forest back- 
grounds, gushing springs, Bermuda lawns, eir. 

A full faculty of scholarly gentlemen, graduates of the 
colli iges and universities of this country and Europe, are 
in (barge of the different departments, where it is de- 
signed to couple a thorough, classical and sc entific eda- 
cation with a practical knowledge of mei hanic arts, engi- 
neering and advanced ideas of agriculture, horticulture, 
etc., both in theoretical and applied forms. The whole 
is under strict military discipline, a comman'^ant of ca* 
dets. a West Pointer, who also instructs in military tac- 
ti( s and science, being regularly detailed from the United 
States service, in compliance with the terms of the act 
endowing such institutions. Full details of arms and 
ordnarce have been made by the Government to this in- 
Btitution. where also an attractive regulation uniform is 
prescribed and adopted. The sessions run from October 
to June. Tuition is free to all residents of Florida, mere- 
ly nominal to those of other States, and excpllent board 
has been re^ucpd to nbo^t *iO ner month. Tb"R are npe- 
sented the highest opportunities, not onl^' to the youth of 
thi«! plnce smd State, but to the pjirents of others a"* well, 
who would exchnnre the r P'ors of more Northern winters 
for oMf briffbt skins and soft, wprm airs, nnd vpt nursne 
thn liberal education of fhpi»* conq \ sub-collpoiate of 
pr^'nrptory course is also afforded. 

T''o F'or'da Aijricn'tural Exoprinr^nt Stntion wns in- 
augurated here in 1888. and is conducted in fonnpctiow 



540 

with the Univeisily of Florida, (formerly Florida Agri- 
cultural College). It occupies a large and finely improv- 
ed tract along the lake shores; has ample buildings, 
barns, sheds, stock-houses, superintendent's quarters, 
etc.; ir^achinery, horses, stock, cattle and implements. 
Cattle-feeding and stock-breeding, ensilage, milk and but- 
ter values in forages and foods, etc.; sub-irrigation, fei- 
tilizing and seed-testing are subjects for forthc^iing in- 
vestigation. Analysis of soils, muck, minerals and wa- 
ters are comprehended in the work in hand. All the fruits, 
crops, grasses, etc., elsewhere treated, and many from 
other sections and countries are placed on trial, with the 
view to ascertaining adaptability, relative values, 
fungoid and insect enemies, and the remedies, etc. The 
enterprise is under capable Lnd energetic management, 
and the published results, disseminated free through 
bulletins, available to the people at large, prove of great 
value to Florida and especially to our own county. 

There are also in the city, some extensively terraced 
and otherwise Inely improved private experimental gar- 
dens of great merit and credit, covering several acres, 
and devoted to the propagation and testing of rare foli- 
age plants, flowers, fruits and vegetab'.os, foreign and do- 
mestic, where hundreds of varieties of roses, geraniums, 
chrysanthemums, and others without Lumber, bloom pro- 
fusely at nearly all seasons. 

There are many other excellent schools, public and 
private, in the city, and at other interesting points in the 
county, but we have not space to devote to them. There 
are a number of smaller thriving towns, also with good 
schools ,at desirable points throughout the county, the 
next in importance to Lake City being Fort White, with 
a population in 1900 of r>00 pv^rsons. 

The principal agricultural products of the county for 
1902, were as follows: 

Value. 

Sea Island cotton, bales, 4.025 $252 FSS 

Corn, bushels, 228.992 132.987 

Oats, bushels, 28.881 17.9i»r> 

Pweet potafops, bushels, «5,ir)0 28.250 

reanuts, bushels, 111,327 9f5-978 



Syrup, barrels, 2,442 17,731 

Pecan nuts, bushels, 213 733 

Peaches, bushels, 7,424 6,588 

Grapes, pounds, 68,458 1,671 

And live stock on hand as follows: 

Horses, number, 1,158 81,112 

Mules, number, 995 90,292 

Stock cattle, number, 10,603 65,655 

Hogs, number, 21,545 45,828 

Poultry, all kinds, 53,785 134,973 

Other products : 

Eggs, dozen, 113,748 13,217 

Butter, pounds, 47,159, 11,603 



DADE COUNTY. 

This county is bounded on the north by Brevard and 
Lake Okeechobee, on the east and south by the Atlantic 
Ocean, and on the west by Lake Okechobee, Lee and Mon- 
roe counties. 

It has an area of 4,424 square miles of land surface, or 
2,831,360 a( res. In 1890 its population was 861, and in 
1900 it. had increased to 4,955, of this number 3,548 were 
white and 1,407 were colored. In 1901 it had 28 schools, 
of which number 22 were white and 6 were colored. 

A BIT OF HISTORY. 

Comparatively little is known in regard to the early set- 
tlement of Dade County, but it is probable that the south- 
ern portion of the county was settled, before any settle- 
ment was made at t^t. Augustine. We quote the follow- 
ing extract from reports of Buckingham Smith. Esq., 
Treasury Ajrent. in his I'euort dated June 1st, 1848: 

"The early history of the southern part of the peninsula 
of Florida shows that when discovered by Ponce de Leon 
in 1512, and for a lo^^g time afterwards, it was numer- 
ously peo^e4 by Indians, living in towns under the rfo- 
minion of the principal ch'Vf. a^d thpt wpj^ of an ir»tTHv 
pid and enterprising character, possessing the same quali- 



o42 

ties in war that have recently rendered the Seminoles such 
troublesome foes. They engaged in agriculture to a cer- 
tain extent, and their excursions to the islands and keya^ 
among the perilous reefs, and along the coast of Florida, 
And atross the straits to the Lutayos and Cuba, caused 
them to acquire nautical knowledge and experience supe- 
rior to that of most other Nort*h American Indians. Ponce 
fle Leon in sailing along the coast near Biscayne Bay saw 
A town. 

"On the Miami River, when first discovered, was an Iii- 
(flian town, nearly opposite, on the eastern shore of Katon 
Key, was once a village, probably the same Ponce saw in 
Bailing down the coast. A Spanish settlement and a 
Catholic settlement were made at an early period near 
this river, and it is probable the missionaries introduced 
white families among the other Indian settlements near 
it. The River Miami was called by the Calos Indians 
^Mayaimi' and by the English 'Garbrand.' It does not 
appear that the English ever established any settlement 
cpon or near it." 

There are many evidences remaining of this early set- 
tlement in vicinity of Miami. It is said that Ponce de 
Leon was hunting the new world, for a spring, known to 
bim as "The Fountain of Youth." Later events have 
proven Ponce de Leon's mistake in sailing so far north- 
ward, as the spring in question has been located on the 
property of Mr. Kirk Munroe at Cocoanut Grove. But 
we are not dealing with ancient history. It matters lit- 
tle when, or by whom thes^e early settlements were made. 
The later movements, and the later settlements are of the 
keenest interest to all. 

It is probable that there is no section of the United 
States, in which the general public are so much interested 
as Dade County. What we mean by the general public, 
is not confined to those living within the boundarv of the 
State, or the dwellers in this favored county, but from all 
sections of the United States, and from foreign rouBtries, 
people are seeking information, as to the climatic condi- 
tions, the agricultural and horticultural pg^ssybilities of 
this county. It is now a well established fact, that there 
is no section of the State that is adapted to the growin§ 
of such a great variety of fruits, whore all the staple v<^sr&- 
tables can be grown in quantity and quality, as Dade 



'MA 

County. The Florida East Coast Railway, built by Mr. 
Henry M. Flagler of New York, was built by easy stages 
down the East Coast, until it penetrated the tropics of the 
Lnited JStates, and a line still further south is being sur- 
veyed. The road was completed from Daytona to Kock- 
ledge in the year 1892. In the year 1890 the steel band» 
were laid to West Palm Beach. Here the work rested for 
a time, and in April 1896 the first train was run into 
Miami. From Rockledge south, to Miami, before the 
building of the railway, as a whole was an uninhabited 
wilderness, save here and there a small settlement. 

It is our purpose to deal only with the marvelous pros- 
perity of Dade County since the building of the railway. 
The extension of the "great civilizer" into the northern 
portion of the county was the signal for a rapid advance 
movement, but the greater and more permanent improve- 
ments and settlements have been made during the past 
two years and each succeeding year, the advance is more 
marked, and better and more lasting improvements are 
being made. Stuart, the northern boundary of the coun- 
ty, has developed into a great fruit country. The present 
acreage of pineapples is large, and each year ^ there is a 
marked increase in the area planted. Considerable atten- 
tion is being paid to growing citrus fruits. The vegeta- 
ble industry has also proven to be very profitable, and 
larger acreages are being planted each year. Jupiter has 
long been a settlemnt of some importance, because of the 
lo( ation of a United States light house, and a government 
Weather Bureau Station. Until the coming of the rail- 
way there had been little or no developments in agricul- 
ture and horticulture. Now it is a pineapple center of 
importance, and more or less attention is being paid to 
planting citrus trees. Several miles west of Jupiter, 
there is a large body of exceptionally fine orange land. 
Mr. George Lainhart, one of the counties trusted com- 
missioners, with several friends, purchased these lands, 
and now they can boast of as fine orange grooves as ever 
grew from the ground. Soon a branch railway will he 
biiilt to these extensive gi-oves to move the fruit. Seven- 
teen miles south from Jupiter, the flourishing town of 
West Palm Beach is reached. This, since the coming of 
the railway, has developed into a thriving village of about 
2,000 inhabitants. During the past two years real estate 



values have rapidly risen, a huj^e miniber of moilern 
houses have been erected, and several fine business blocks. 
This town is destined to become a city of winter homes. 
For lo ation. it is beautiful, lyirg as it does on the banks 
of Lake Worth. Across the lake at Palm Beach, is the 
greatest and mos't popular winter resort of this conti- 
nent. Mr. Henry M. Flagler has erected two of h'a 
palatial winter resort hostelries, viz.: the Royal Pon- 
oiana, the largest tourist hotel in the United States, and 
the Breakers, a smaller hrtel. but in appointment equal 
to the Ponciana. Since building these, Mr. Flagler has 
been obliged to enlar^re them, because of the great influx 
of winter visitors. The grounr's belonging to these hotels 
are the finest, and most elaborate in the world. Tropical 
trees, shrubs and flowers, intermingled with those brought 
from semi-tropical clin^ates abound everywhere. Visi- 
tors no sooner enter these grounds, when they are en- 
chanted at the won'^erful scene of beauty. Several other 
smaller hotels have sprung up, so that all cla'^ses can find 
entertainment at a cost suited to their financial condition. 
There are m.any palatial residences, owned by Northern 
multi-millionaires, who snend ther winters there. The 
lands surrounding West Palm Beach are mostly spruce 
pine lands, which have nroven to be the best for pine- 
apple culture. Vast fields of this lucious fruit surround 
the village and each year the acreage is being increased. 
Hypoluxo and LantaT^a, are both located on the banks of 
Lake Worth, and both are thriving settlements. These 
places are noted for their large banana fields. Trucking 
is largely entered into by this prosperous people. South- 
ward to Miami, from these places five years ago was an 
almost unbroken wildernes*:. Hardly a trace of civiliza- 
tion could be seen, and the face of the country was unin- 
teresting and dis''nura"'incr. Few h^d h^^t little faith in 
all this long stretch of land as an aeiieuHural or horticul- 
tirral countrv. In snite of what seemed insurmountable 
obsta'^^les, many thriving villages have sprung up, inhabi- 
tated by a prosperous people. What seemed to be worth- 
less white sand has nroven to be the best lands in the 
State for growinc ninenrmlps. whHe there are "skirts" of 
rich lands esnpci'^nv fdanted fn fTT-owiTig- citr'^s fruits. 
Boynton and Pelrav were settled by sturdy, strong and 
prosperous people from Michigan, an "• under their foster- 



345 

ing Jiands, both of these places have come into great 
prominence for truck growing and pineapple culture. 
Skirtirg these towns to the east, are hundreds of acres vi 
rich muck lands, as fertile as the far-famed Mississippi 
Valley. Yearly thousands of crates of tomatoes and 
other vegetables are shipped north. The spruce pine has 
disappeared, and great pineapple plantations have takeu 
its place. Neat and coi^fortable homes have been built, 
and prosperity abounds. These people understanding the 
value of good highways, are building splendid rock roads, 
and each year they will extend them until all the cross 
roads, leading to the main county road will be equal to 
the best paved streets in the large cities. At Bocoa Rf>' 
ton, a few miles further south, the orange and pineapple 
industry has taken a firm hold on the people, and many 
hundred acres of the spruce pine lands have been trans- 
formed into profitable fields. Between Bocoa Ra- 
ton and Fort Lauderdale, there are several prosperous 
villages and immense truck fields. Fort Lauderdale, 
located at the junction of New River and Biscayne Bay, 
was an important place during the Indian war. Here the 
trucker finds his paradise. The lau(Ts are low and damp, 
and phenominal crops are grown on tliem. There are sev- 
eral exceptionally fine groves here, and each year addi- 
tions are being made. Fort Lauderdale is an important 
Indian trading post, as it is easily reached by the New 
River, whose hea<l is among the wilds of the Ev(n'glades. 
Coming south a few miles and Dania is reached. Here 
there are thousands of acres of marl prairie, while lying 
to the west of them are long stretches of spruce pine. A 
few weeks sfuce, several hundred acres of these lands 
were sold to a syndicate from North Carolina, who pro- 
pose to farm on a large scale. Within the last two years 
the sprure pine land has demonstrated its peculiar adapt- 
ability for growMnjg pineapples of the finest quality, and 
now Dania is recognized as a pineapple center, Avith many 
thousand dollars of Northern capital invested in it. The 
Bame is also true of Hallendale, with the exce])tion that 
there are more vegetables grown there than at Dania. 
Coming south from Hallendale, the Snake Creek Valley is 
reached. This stream has its heads in the Everglades, 
and on either side there are thousands of acres of fertile 
lands which have been turned into profitable fields, and 



34G 

the high pine lands are being transformed into orapge 
giH^es. 'iiie same is aiSo true of the setiiemeut at aixU 
Oreek, Bisca.vue, Little iviver, and Bueua Vista, ihe 
lauus skiitiug the Everglades proper, west of these places 
has been purcliased by progressive larmers, and, are now 
turned into huge tomatue fields. The next place reached 
is Miami, the Alagic City of all the Southland. Six years 
ago where now stands liie beauliiul ana unujue city of 
liiami there were but two residences, viz.: that of the late 
Mi-s. Julia 1). Tuttle, and Mr. Wm. D. Brickell. The 
greater part of the land was covered with a dense growth 
of tropical vmes, shrubs and trees, not a highway was 
cut through the unbroken forest. Six years has made 
almost marvelous changes. The typical tropiial "wilder- 
ness has been made to blossom like the rose,'' the tangled 
mass of vines, shrubs and trees have been cut away, and, 
in their places scores of elegant homes have been erected, 
miles of paved streets have been built, a complete sewer- 
age system, constructed by the Fort Dallas Land Com- 
pany, which Mr. Henry M. Flagler recently presented to 
the city. One of the most complete waterworks in the 
South, furnishes the residents with water as pure as the 
mountain dew, and the city is. lighted by a first class 
electric light plant. There ai*e six white church organi- 
zations, each owning neat and substantial buildings, and 
ea( h having a settled pastor. A large and up-to-date 
public school building has been erected, with an enroll- 
ment of two hundred and seventy-two pupils and six 
teachers. Many large, modern brick and stone business 
blocks have been erected, and the merchants carry stocks 
of goods ec^ual to ajiy city in the South. Mr. Henry M. 
Flagler built here the Hotel Royal Palm, located at the 
conjunction of the historic Miami Kiver, and the Biscayne 
Bay. The hotel occupies a commanding site. From the 
broad detached veranda, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean 
are seen, while vessels engaged in coast trade pass in 
full view. This is one of Mr. Flagler's most popular ho- 
tels, and each winter tourists from all sections of the 
world tlcxk here, to enjoy the constant summer climate. 
Early in the history of Miami, Mr. Henry M. Flagler, 
recognizing the necessity of deep water connections with 
the outside world, and. at his own expense, drei\2:ed a 
twelve foot channei frotn the gi-eat pier, to deep water in 



847 

the ocean, via Cape Florida. Lines of steamshipa were 
put on between Aiianii and Key West, Miami and navana, 
Miami and Nassau, N. P. It was soon evident that 
deeper water was necessary to care for all the shipping 
that came this way from (juba and iSouth America. Mr. 
Flagler, in conjunction with the citizens of Miami, 
brought the matter before the National Congress. After 
a prolonged and stubborn fight, lasting several years, the 
matter was terminated at the Idst session of Congress, 
by an appropriation of $300,000 for this purpose. The 
enterprise will cost 1600,000 or more, but Mr. Flagler 
agreed to spend an equal sum with the Government to se- 
cure a channel (JO feet wide by 18 feet deep from the wharf 
to the ocean, also a basin of the same depth, COO by 1,200 
feet. 

Miami will, when the work is completed, be the farth- 
est south deep water port on the main land of the United 
States reached by a railroad. Ihis will make Miami the 
most important commercial center on the iSouth Atlantic 
Coast. During the past few months population in the 
city limits has been increasing rapidly in values, and a 
large number of residences have been erected. There is 
at present three large brick and stone business blocks be- 
ing erected on Twelfth street. The Fort Dallas National 
Bank, which has recently been organized, has received 
the plans for a new bank building. When comi)leted this 
building will be the most elegant banking house in the 
State. It will be constructed of white Georijria marble. 
The First National Bank are also preparing to erect a 
handsome and commodious banking house at the cdrner 
of Avenue C and 12th street. A handsome jail built of 
Miami rock is almost completed, and the County Com- 
missioners have advertised the bids for the building of a 
magnificent court house from the same material. The 
contract has been let for a steel bridge to be built across 
the Miami River at the foot of Avenue D. 

The next place south is Cocoanut Grove, a prosperous 
village of several hundred inhabitants. The back coun- 
try, lying west from Miami and Cocoanut Grove, is rapi- 
dly filling up with a most desirable class of settlers. 
Hundreds of acres are being planted in citrus and tropi- 
cal fruit trees. New and comfortable homes are being 
erected. 



348 

Larkins is the next settlemeut south of Cocoanut 
Grove. This is a hustling little town, and is being rapi- 
dly filled up. 

Cutler, located on the Perrine Grant, is a thriving vil- 
lage, and the headquarters of the immense vegetable 
fields which abound there. 

South and west of Cutler, lies the homestead country 
"Which is now rapidly filling up. Dade County six years 
ago was almost unknown save to a few. Today it is the 
most widely known and most talked of of any county in 
the State. Last year it is estimated that the farmers re- 
ceived one million dollars in cash for their vegetable crop. 
In the last year and a half there has probably been 
planted in the neighborhood of 200,000 citrus trees, and 
nearly as many tropical fruit trees. The coming year 
there is a probability that the number of fruit trees to be 
planted will amount to more than the plantings of the 
last two years. The same is true in regard to pineapples. 
Daffe County received the first premium at the State 
Fair for the best display of fruits. 

The present Board of County Commisf^ioners have the 
best interests of the county at heart. They are men of 
sterling integrity, respected and trusted by the people. 

The assessor's books tells the story of the wonderous 
prosperity of Dade County in the last few years. Itjteads 
like a fairy tale. We take the following from the asses- 
sor's books. Read, then reflect: 



S49 





Aggregate Tax- 
able l^roperty 


State Taxes 


Couuty Taxes 


1«(57 




* 77 77 


$ 38 87 


1867 1 






1808 V.... 




330 60 


169 06 


imj ) 








]8i0 


$ 7 850 00 


145 27 


80 90 


1880 


82,ii4(j OU 


252 31 


2:^6 11 


189.) 


4^2,672 00 


2,0o0 12 


5,192 10 


1891 


658,254 00 


3,592 92 


7,385 83 


Ift92 


86ii,»98 00 


4,7oy 77 


10 606 55 


1893 


1,171,412 00 


6,415 iy 


14.356 19 


18M 


1,274,067 t:0 


7,327 9'.' 


13,005 57 


189o...... 


1,562,272 00 


7,0-'5 <0 


15,922 71 


1896 


1,629,002 00 


6,116 23 


16,743 62 


1897 


2,150,581 Ou 


11,322 74 


22-212 87 


1898...... 


2,350,897 00 


11.166 87 


30,076 22 


1899 


2,500,597 00 


13,753 2^ 


30,6'.>7 16 


1900 


2,582,227 00 


12.iJll U 


84,336 95 


1901 


2,7S5,790 00 


13,928 25 


37,U05 27 



Dade County is the only county in the State that has 
maintained a County Fair during the last five years. 

The industrial departments of the Florida East Coast 
Railway has been under the management of Mr. J. E. Ing- 
raham, Third Vice President, and through his untiring 
and persistent efforts, Dade County has reached its pres- 
ent prosperous condition. Mr. Ingraham has proven him- 
self the "right man in the right place." 

In March, 1892, Mr. Ingraham, with an engineer corps, 
undertook the perilous task of crossing the Everglades. 
Entering the glades at Myers, on the East Coast, they fol- 
lowed a southeast course through the broad expanse of 
water, saw-grass and hammock islands, reaching Miami 
in April. This was a most difficult and dangerous under- 
taking, one that none of the party care to repeat. Afler 
reaching Miami, a few days of observation were sufficient 
to convince him that he had reached the "Promised Land.'' 
Here he found tropical and semi-tropiral fruit trees Iqden 
with fruit and bloom, fhruba and flowing plants told of 
perpetual summer, while stretching north and south lay 



350 

the limpid waters of the now far-famed Biseayne Bay, 
and just beyond, the restless waters of the Atlantic Ocean 
were breaLlng on the wave beaten shores of Biseayne and 
Virginia Keys, wh le through Morris and Bears cuts, the 
incoming and out-goirg t.des rushed vainly, attempting 
to plow deeper channels through the unyielding ro( k. 
His extensive knowledge of plant life, their soil and <-li- 
niatic requirements, assured him that thi^ was tne coming 
vegetable and fruit country of the United States. His 
knowledge of the ne(eRsit es of commercial life told him 
that in time there would be built in the then wildeimess. a 
commercial city second to none on the far South Atlantic 
Cojist. Be was firpt to call the attention of Mr. Flagler 
to the jiossibilitiea of Dade County, and u:,,.'^ the ejjlen- 
sion of the railway to Miami, from We«t Palm Beach. 
Again when the frost demon had devasted (lie country, 
destroying the groves throughout the old «>Tanire bolt, and 
a wa 1 of dif'tress and sorrow, because of blasted h«»pes 
and broken fortunes were heard, he again sfoix^ u])(>n ihe 
barks of the Bis< ayne Bay. finding that no frost or freeze 
hprf v'(!H9r\ this sppf^'o^. that Ipmcins. limes, oranges and 
tropical trees were in full fruit or bloom, and that all na- 
ture was fresh, bright and glad, he at once gathered ma- 
tured fruits. fre?h fr".(grart flowers and branches covered 
with rfark glO'SS'y leaves, and sent them to Mr. Flagler as 
positive evidence that at last he h.-^d found a place where 
the frost king had ^o power. Tt was largely through his 
energy, his explorations and influence that led Mr. Flag- 
ler to make the terminus of his railway system nt Miami. 

Hon. Fred S. Morse has charge of the snip of lands in 
South Dade from the beginning, and his efforts have been 
crowrerl with fi^1ccpf'f^, a"d the T)4»or>1e iu th«^ PO"'ithern «ec- 
tio'^ ar*» uTif'pr lapt'rtg obligation for that which ha«» been 
accomnlished by him in the settlement of the wild lands. 

T^ closing" fjifs short and co^^^ensorf history of this 
vnoKf woTif'erful co-'^pfrv. we will add but ]\if]e. Thp r}\ 
mate is perfect, and Dsde rourty is a ron^i di^«irable 
pla p for an all the venr around home. Although ]v^pt m 
the tropics, the summer weather i«< simply delightful. 
The winters are perfertion. Good water as clear as crys- 
tal ?c fo"i^(] jif a fippth of from ten to sixteen feet in all 
parts of the rountv. Tf you are loo^iT1o• for a fln^e wh'»pe 
large sums of money are made in tilling the soil, come to 



am 

Dade County. In ( ase .'ou wish to know nioro in regard 
to i;ade County write K. V. Iliackuian, editor of tho 
Florida East Coasi ilonieseeker, Miami, Fla., and he will 
send you a sample lopy wh.ch will give you the informa- 
tion you desire. 

The following are the principal products of the soil for 
1902: 

Value. 

Tomatoes, crates, 1G8,55G $22i),017 

Cmumbers, cri'tcs, 450 000 

Beans, crates, 1,500 1,110 

Oranges, crates, 2,452 3!),074 

Lemons, crates, 250 250 

Grape fruit, crater, 750 2,900 

Pineapple, crates, 105.882 120,7G2 

Bananas, bunches, 1,450 700 

Live stock on hand : 

Horses, number, 210 20 010 

Mules, number, 78 9,405 

Stock cattle, number, 1,626 22,840 



DESOTO COl NTY. 

Is bounded on the north by Polk, on the east by Os- 
ceola and Lake Okeechobee, south by Lee, and on the 
west by Manatee County and the Gulf of Mexico. It has 
3,755 square miles of land surface, or 2,403,200 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 4,944, and in 1900 it was 
8.047. Of this number 7.874 were white and 673 colored. 
At the end of the school term of 1901 it had 55 schools, of 
which 53 were white and 2 were for negroes, 

CLIMATE AND HEALTH. 

Of the climnte nlore. vobiTr^e*? mi'^ht he T^'^-ittf^n if ri^f^vQ 
worr^s could co'^vey any fust ''oncent'on of it to r^er^ons 
who hnve rev^r hoon hero. Those who hnvp hr-oofViof^ v\\q 
soft nir of this rofrion and whosp cheeks h'lve ff^H the men- 
ial rlow of t^p f''e'i"ious sn"«h*"'» in winter n^rl bivo b«^"n 
fanned by the perfume-laden, balsamic, gulf breeze of 



352 

summer, know that the all-the-year climate of this region 
is as nearly perfect as anything can be. 

It is not perfectly correct to say that the climate is one 
of perpetual summer; yet extremes of temperature are 
almost unknown and the variation is less than 
in any other part of America, except some 
other portions of South Florida. There have 
been many winters in succession when, it is 
said, no trace of frost was seen in the county; yet they do 
sometimes occur; usually so light, however, as to do lit- 
tle damage even to the most tropical vegetation. The 
thermometric range in winter is usually between 65 and 
85 degrees during the day, and 60 to 75 at night; but 
there are a few days in every winter when the thermome- 
ter drops to 50 or 45 degrees, and, as above stated, at rare 
intervals the frost line is reached. It may be remarked 
though that anything below 50 degrees is regarded as 
cold weather here in winter, just as any temperature In 
summer above 00 dfgrees is considered hot weather. 
The summer range is from 75 degrees at noon, and 65 to 
70 at night, but there are days when the mercury mounts 
up to fi6, and twice in the past four yars the writer has 
known it to climb to 98 degrees, but never higher. This 
may seem excessively hot, but it should be explained in 
this connection that, owing to the incessant sea breeze, a 
temperature of 98 deprees is less oppressive here than 85 
degrees of heat is in the Middle Statas. Hence it is that 
sun strokes are unknown here and the summer seasons 
are more pleasant than in m.ost parts of the North. 

The rainy season begins about the first of June, and 
rortrniies ur^til about the first of September. During 
that interval there is a shower of morp or less duration 
alipo^'t every dav, but without proiucing the overflows 
which such a fall rf ws'ter would cause in a flat country; 
es'^'^'inllv OT>p with a clay soil. 

There is also a "dry seasoTi," which usually includes the 
n'OTithp of yarch. Anril and May: but there ^.re excep- 
tional years when there is no clearly defined "wet" or '<f1rv 
c-n.-«.or, " fhp. T-airs being pretty evenly distributed 
Th^'^'in^hoiTt th<» year. 

We come now to consider the subject which overshad- 
ows nil othorp — hp-ifb. All +^« con^l'tons rond^p^vp to 
health a^p h^r'^; all the condit'o^s produf^tive of disease 
are absent. The temperature varies but little; there are 



353 

no extremes of heat or cold. The atmosphere, renewed 
from the ocean daily, through fifty miles of resinous 
pines, is soft, balmy and health-giving; there are no 
poisonous gases, no unwholesome vapors and there is no 
foul air. 

Cloudless skies and bright days are the rule, cloudy 
days the exception ; gloomy weather, not in the calendar. 
The water of the wells, like that of the lakes, is free fn ni 
organic matter and betrays no trace of mineral ; it js 
pure, wholesome and refreshing, ^andy and saudy 
loams are the predominant soils; and these absorb the 
rain, usually, as fast as it falls. When the rainfall !s vx- 
cessive, the surplus water is rapidly borne away by the 
numerous creeks and rivers; there is no stUj^nanr water, 
^ no mud, no decaying animal or vegetable matter, no ma- 
laria. 

Chills and fevers and bilious diseases are rare and 
when they do occur, mild in type; catarrh and hay I'ever 
are foreign to climatic (onditions here; a cough is never 
heard unless imported, and without further attempt to ac- 
count for the fact, it is a fact beyond controversy that, for 
health, this county equals, if it does not surpass, any in- 
habited spot of equal area. 

SOIL AND TIMBER. 

The lands of this county are classed as hiph and low 
hammocks, high pine, flatwoods, sand scrub, ere. and the 
high pine lands are sometimes divif^ed into iwo ilasses: 
"Choice" and "poor pine land." This distinction has lit- 
tle significance, however, as both classes of pine land are 
frequently embraced in a five-ac re lot. and evrr\ < lass of 
land above mentioned might be found in one quarter sec- 
tion. This county has every character of land to be 
found in South Florir'a and if the immigrant "doesn't see 
what he wants" he should "ask for it." 

No county of like exte«t under the sun is capable of 
BUih an endless variety of soil productions; but it mnst 
not be supposed that the same a<Te will produce pv»tv- 
thing with equal facility; therefbre the settler should 
first defiT^itely settle in Irs own mind just what he wants 
to do; then search intelligently for a location and soil 
23 H F 



;{r.i 

exactly suitod to his ])nr{)<>a('. fnli.v jis^nrc ! tlial such Um a- 
tions aro to he found within the ronnty limits, if he vv 11 
look for tiieni. Does he ini line to general i'lrniing — the 
low, rich hammocks (but rot too low) aio p(N uliarly 
adapted to the business. Corn, cats, millet, sorghum, 
potatoes, garden truck an'\ cx(e])t whent, about every- 
thing ])rodu(ed in the >U)rth '""^^d West <'Vj\ b" abundantly 
grown on su( h land, and to the^^e (an b'^ a 1(V I sngnr cane, 
lowland rice, cassava, arrow root, yan s rt^^^ many other 
crops which the North canriot i>rodu( e. If hf' desires to 
mix general, farmirg w.th or^n^^e cnltvro. the high ham- 
mock hind will "wt him brst. It will '^ol "'>nal th<^ low 
hamn'ock in the prof''nction of pon'e of the H'^ld croT>s! men- 
tioned (though excelling in some ethers) > but it will pro- 
du '■> th-^ citrus fruits which cannot bo sufM-essfnlly and . 
profitably grown on low hammock. 

Perha])s the prospector will como with a strong predilec- 
tion for orange-grow'ng nsf a sitccialty. le (an finl just 
what he wa^ts and he will only be renu'rel to < hoose be- 
tween high hanMvo(k a"'d h'gh T)ine I'Mr^ .^s to the rp'a- 
tive merits of the two clns'^oo of lan^'' ovi'>)on«3 f^itf^r. The 
fonnf^r 's the mo^e f^rtiV r>f the tv»'o ;nid will p^^-oduce a 
thrifty growth of ti*ef>«! and r^mun'^r^tivp croT^s of fruit fop 
a series of years, without the aid of ^prtil'^^rs. The lat- 
ter, to secure the best r^^s^ilts. must b^ f"rtilized to some 
extent from the onts'et; vft it is chea'^er ^n the wild state 
than hnmmock and t^^e cost of nreparinf^ it ^or planting is 
80 much les!s that it is •re'^pra'Jlv conce'or^ th'^t an orange 
gro'" on hi"h nine Ip^'^^ v.''1l havo co^t ^'^'^«. pve'-vthing 'n- 
cluded. at the expirat'on of ten years, than a similar one 
on h*"h hammo'k. ar^d if ttie f^rtili-^oi^o i.nvp b^e^i m>nlied 
intel1\<Tently. the ni'^e land will be more nro'^uctive than 
the hammock. It is also claim*>d that ova^i^es nroiiuced 
on n'ne I'^nds are sMperior to thope "^rown on ham'^iock 
la'"''. "P^owpvi^r that vrvv ^p. o"'^ th'nrr ca" be nos'tivly 
aff^'rn-ed and that is: PeSnto Conntv T»ror?n((»j ;is lus- 
cio'"'s oranires as are P"rown i" ttie wr-ri-^ .^-r,^ b'->ih cla'='sps 
of la^i'l iust allude'^ to co'"tnb"tp ^" ^'^"^ ».'>c-,,h 

Prn'r'"s are uanal'v inclu'''ed under th" h^ad of flat 
woof^s; b^it a d'sti^(ti''n f^'hnul'^ b'^ nir»''p for the ob\'i'>us 
reason that prairies are not woor'ln^ds at n').- J^c^i'^s 
the h'^tter (rra'Vs of f'at wood's f>re f^r\ while the orair'es 
of this section and of all South Florida are general I v wet. 



355 

fio long as the more desirable lands are plenteous the prai- 
ries will not receive inu< h attention ; but in time they will 
no doubt become valuable as rice fields, meadow lands, 
anf^ TH)s«ibiy sufj^r lands, "Snnfl scrub." or "palmetto- 
Borub" lands are regarded as of little value and at present 
no attempt is made to cultivate them. But in this Avon- 
derful ( limate whf"»e the trees and plants of the tropics 
flourish side by side with those of the warm temperate, 
temperate and colder regions/'nothing was made in vain," 
and ere long it will be discovered that the despised "sand 
scrub" has its uses. There are numerous fiber plants of 
great value, which it is believed would succeed splendidly 
on such land — and it is not impossible that in the aear 
future lands now freely offered at a dollar or two per acre 
will return their owners |100 or more per acre annually, 
under a high state of cultivation. 

Yellow pine is the omnipresent forest tree of this sec- 
tiv>n as of all Florida, and is the most valuable tree we 
have. It is applied to all purpcses for which lumber is 
used in the construction of houses and barns, the building 
of boats, fencing of lands, etc. It also furnishes nearly 
all the fire-wood consumed, "without money and without 
price." Cypress also exists in considerable (luantities 
and is used in the manufacture of shingles and for various 
other purposes su' h as boat-building, wagon and furni- 
ture manufacture, etc. Hickory, live oak, water oak, wil- 
low oak, ash, wahoo, gum, cabbage palmetto, magnolia, 
sweet bay and occsaioT^ally Florida hamogany, are found 
in the hammocks, while black-jack and turkey oak are 
seen on some of the pine lands. Florida mahogany is not 
abundant in this section, but the man who collects a 
quantity of it and cuts it into veneering will strike a 
bonanza. 

The only mineral resources known are the immense de- 
posits of pebble plioshate, found both in the soil, and in 
the r-reek a^^d river botton^s. 

Live stock growing is the principal industry, and thou- 
sands of cattle are annuajly exported, either through 
Puntn Oorda or Tnmna. 

And it pays to raise cattle. Fortunes have been made 
in the busir»es«? in this nnl oth<^r counties of South Florida 
an'l moro forture^ will be n-Pflp in the fntur". Timuirh a 
three-year-old will only sell for .flO to .fl5, it costs little 



350 

to raise it, and every ten dollar note go obtained is $10 
literally picked up out of the wire grass. 

It will also pay to raise Texas ponies here, and those 
who go into it right will strike a good thing. 

There are but few sheep in the county, but they do well 
here and there should be more of them. The same remark 
will apply to goats. This is a slendid county for poultry 
raising. Chickens and eggs always command ready mar- 
kets at good prices. Key West is (he best poultry mar- 
ket. Hoes are raif^ed like the cattle mostly — wild in the 
woods. Most of them are of the "razor back" type, but 
there are many good ones. 

Now we come to briefly consider the productions of the 
soil, and it is here that this county can justly claim pre- 
eminence over every other county of the State and of many 
other states; for, as before remarked, no country in the 
world of equal size can compare with her in variety of 
products. So numerous are they that, only the most im- 
portant can be mentioned and none can here be described. 
Of the field crops we recall corn, oats, hay, barley, 
teosinte, rye, millet, sorghum, Kaffir corn, rice, sugar 
cane, peas, peanuts, chufas, cassava, tanyah, pumnkina, 
melons, arrowroot, turnips, sweet potatoes and Irish po- 
tatoes. Sugar cane, perhaps, gives the best net returns — 
$100 to $150 per acre, and one planting suffices for six or 
seven years. Smeet potatoes pay venv well too. 

In the truck gardens we find tomatoes, egg plant, cauli- 
flower, cabbage, cucumbers, beans, beets, peas, onions, 
radishes, Jamaica ginger, lettuce and about everything 
grown anywhere. Okra and peppers are perennial. 
Gherkins grow wild. Tomatoes are the leading early 
vegetable crop, and patches of ten and twenty a'-res each 
are frequently seen. They are planted in fall and winter 
and net the growers from $50 to $.'?00 per acre — some- 
times more. Egg plants are profitable, and in the lake 
region only require to be planted onre in three or fonr 
years. Cucumbers pay from to $."^00 per acre; deT)end- 
Ing entirely upon the presence or absence of the Aphis 
Insect. 

The fruits in cultivation in PeSoto Conntv are almo«t 
innnmerahle and comprise the choirest varieties of nearlr 
every habitable nart of the slob**. For convenience we di- 
Tide them into three classes, as follows : 



367 

I. Temperate and warm-temperate climates : Peaches, 
pears, apricots, nectarines, plums, gi*apes, Japan persim- 
mons, strawberries, blackberries, mulberries, etc. 

II. Semi-tropical fruits: Oranges, lemons, limes, 
pomelo or "grape fruit," shaddocks, figs, pomegranates, 
loquats, citron, kumquat, bergamot, jujube, etc. 

III. Tropical fruits: Banana, pineapple, guava, man- 
go, avacado, sugar apple, cheramoya, paj>eya, sapodilla, 
pepeno, granadillaj tamarind and some others, such as the 
cocoanut, which are grown mostly as ornaments. 

The orange still yields the sceptre as the^queen of fruits; 
yet some others give about as satisfactory results as 
viewed from a financial standpoint, and it is almost cer- 
tain that macigoes, avocadoes, and possibly sugar apples, 
will be even more remunerative when we produce them in 
quantities sufticient to supply the northern cities. For 
local markets they are twice as profitable as oranges. 

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 

The Atlantic Coast Line enters the county at Bowling 
Green on the northern line of the county, and extends to 
Punta Gorda on Charlotte Harbor, then crosses the coun- 
ty southeasterly to Ft. Myers, on the Caloosahatchee 
river. We thus have through communication, and freight 
facilities direct to the North and Northwest, and through 
the ports of Punta Gorda and Ft. Myers, via the steam- 
ship lines, Key West, Havana, and Mobile, New Or- 
leans, and Galveston. 

Arcadia is the county seat, and had in 1900 a popula- 
tion of 799. In 1890, it was about being incorporated, 
and the population was scarcely more than 100. It is 
now a thriving town, supplied with banks, railway and 
postal facilities, churches, schools, industrial establish- 
ments, mercantile trades, warehouses, and fruit packing 
houses, and everything essential to a live and prosperous 
community. 

Punta Gorda, on Charlotte Harbor, is the largest 
town in the county; in 1890 it had a population of 262, 
and in 1900 it had increased to 800. Punta Gorda is the 
most important shipping point in the far south on the 
west coast of the mainland. It is a great r-attle and phos- 
phate shipping port, and also a \ny large sliippiijg 



358 

point, from whonce immense quantities are annuallj 
shipped, both bv land and water. It is a flue winter re- 
sort for tourists, where fishing and hunting of the finest 
kind is always near at hand. We have not the space to 
devote to the other prosperous and thriving towns ana 
villages. 

The principal agricultural and other products for 1902, 
are as follows : 

VaJu.j, 

Corn, bushels, 5fi,054 | ^5.864 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 142,163 71,878 

Rice, bushels, lf!344 i).704 

Field peas, bushels, 7,999 11,()5T 

Hay, tons, 1,000 8,000 

Velvet beans, bushels, 9,025 18,8(55 

Syrup, barrels, 1,957 28,905 

Sugar, pounds, 20,040 1 ,216 

Irish potatoes, bushels, 4,920 8,790 

Tomatoes, crates, 40,151 14,013 

Cucunibei-s, crates, 9,038 15,094 

Watermelons, carloads, 275 45,103 

Beans, crates, 98,387 141,310 

Oranges, boxes, 418,144 090,40S 

Grape fruit, boxes, 10.700 134,57tf 

Pineapples, number, 547,750 73,504 

The following live stock on hand : 

Horses, number, 2,400 119,{»30 

Stoc k cattle, number, 133,783 1,071.<;0C 

Sheep, number, 7,905 15,800 

Hogs, number, 20,785 20,785 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 40,670 21,028 



DUVAL COUNTY. 

Duval County is bounded on the north by Nassau, east 
by the Atlantic ocean and St. Johns County, south by 
Clay and St. Johns County, and west by Baker and Nas- 
sau Counties. 

Its area in square miles of land surface is 822 or 526,- 
080 aci'es. 



3S9 

In 1890, its popnlation was 26,800, and in 1900, it was 
39,733, of which number, 17,276 were white and 22,457 
were negroes. At the end of the school term of 1901, it 
maintained 70 schools, of which 39 were white and 31 
were for negroes. 

Naturally an article of this nature will not contaia 
all the information relative to Duval County that the 
average tourist or home seeker may desire, but it is hoped 
that the reader will learn enough to show the many ad- 
vantages offered by this county. 

The St. Johns River flows through the county for over 
forty miles, to which is tributary numerous streams, sa 
that it is well watered. Its transportation facilities are 
unequalled, as large ocean ateamem and vessels come to 
Jacksonville, and numerous lines of railways center there 
The importance of this feature can hardly be overesti- 
mated to the farmer, because in addition to the home 
market afforded by the city of Jacksonville, he can com- 
mand Northern markets without having the value of his 
products consumed by freight charges. 

Many fruits, vegetables and grains can be grown profit- 
ably in this county, while the St. Johns Kiver and all its 
tributaries abound in fish, such as shad, mullet, bas», 
sheepshead, trout, black fish, perch, bream, red snapper^ 
and numerous other varieties, which furnish an abund- 
ance of cheap and nutritious food as well as endless 
amusement for the lover of rod and gun. 

Oysters also abound near the mouth of the river. 

Stock raising is quite profitable. 

Lands are cheap and most of them so fertile that a- 
man of ordinary industry will make a comfortable liv- 
ing from a few acres. Land can be purchased from |2.00 
to $200:00 per acre, depending upon location. 

Pigs, peaches, pears, strawberwes, Japan plums, peF- 
simmons, grapes, etc., handsomely repay the cost of cul- 
tivation. Grapes are especially productive. Some to- 
bacco has been grown in this county at a big profit. 

The population is over 40,000, about equally divided 
between whites and blacks. 

The county has about 700 miles of roads, many miles 
of which are rock and shell. 



300 

The county buildings are new and in excellent condi- 
tion. The new county court house being the finest in the 
State. 

The county has a bonded debt of $400,000—5 per cent 
bonds. 

The assessed valuation, State and County, based on 40 
per cent, value will be about $9,000,000.00 for the pres- 
ent year. State and County tax, 18 mills. The assessed 
valuation on a higher basis for the city of Jacksonville 
alone is about |15,000.0l)0.no. 

The number of mills and manufacturing enterprises of 
all kinds is one hundred and twenty-five, including lum- 
ber, cigars, fiber, woodworking, fertilizer, soap, etc. 

Duval County Schools are among the best in the South. 
The school tax is 5 mills; the city has eight months and 
the county six months of school, there are 40 white and 
30 colored schools, emoloying 173 teachers at a cost of 
^50.000.00 per year. The attendance last year was, white, 
3,738; colored, 3,528. There were 11 male and 90 female 
white teachers and 14 male and 58 female colored teach- 
ers. 

There are als^o two colored colleges. A fine business 
college and a Catholic srhool. 

Duval County has $200,000.00 invested in school prop- 
erty. 

There are about 75 churches in the county, 50 of which 
are in the citv of Jacksonville. 

The healthfulneps of the county is shown by official 
records to be good. 

The mean temperature for three summer and three 
winter months is as follows: June 80, July 81, August 
82, December 56 January 55, February 82. This is the 
averfifre for 30 years and comes from the weather bureau. 

Winter is our dry season. The rainfall for the wet sea- 
son is June 5.67, July ^.32, August 6.19, September 8.25, 
average for 30 years. 

The principnl towns are Jacksonville, Mandarin, South 
Jacksonville, Mayport. Pablo Beach, Fort George, New 
■Berlin, Chaseville, Dinsmore, Baldwin, Oilraore, Idle- 
weld nnd Maxville. These towns are all reached by river 
or ra'l. and Mnyrvort, Pablo P»oach. and Fort Ceorge are 
esTx^c'allv attractive with lovers of rod and gun. Fish 
and oysters are abundant and game is plentiful. The 



3G1 

beach is lined with cottages of many Jacksonville citi- 
sens. 

Jacksonville, the County Seat and largest city in the 
State, is one of the best known cities in the world. It Is 
the gateway to Florida, the Bahamas, Cuba and South* 
America. The city has a river frontage of nine miles, a 
large wholesale trade, numerous banks, well paved 
streets, an efficient fire department, excellent hotels, 
electric light plant and water works owned by the city, 
fifty churches, two daily and a number of weekly and 
monthly papers, numerous lodges and clubs, fine markets, 
an opera house, twenty miles of electric railways, a race 
track, magnficent public buildings, among the number a 
$300,000.00 government building and $100,000.00 court 
house, in fact all that goes to make life a comfort and 
worth living. 

, While Jacksonville does not claim to be a manufactur- 
ing city, she has over one hundred factories, employing 
an aggregate capital of over $2,000,000.00. 

Artesian wells supply the city with over 5,000,000 gal- 
lons of pure water daily, which goes far towards making 
Jacksonville one of the healthiest cities in the world. 

The land upon which the city is mainly built rises 
gently from the river bank, thus commanding a view of 
the river, and affording natural drainage. 

The population has steadily increased and the enter- 
prise of its citizens and advantages of location have en- 
abled it to surmount every obstacle and maintain its su- 
premacy as the leading commercial city of the far south. 

The fatal yellow fever epidemic of 1888 did not stay 
its onward progress, but only inspired its citizens to 
take such sanitary precautions as will prevent a recur- 
rence of such an coidemic. 

The disasterous frosts of 1804-5 was a severe blow, yet 
the business men of Jacksonville were undismayed and 
their healthy condition was indicated by the excellent 
bank statements and the rapid growth of the wholesale 
business. 

- It ha« survived the shock of the great conflagration of 
May 3, 1901, and the new Jacksonville stands a monu- 
ment to the energy and enterprise of a brave and pros- 
perous people. 



3G2 

The doubtful jperiod is paist, and the future beam* 
forth like the sun in heaven. 

Among the thousands who have found homes of peace 
and plenty, many have become rich, while all have beea 
^ made content. Many thousands more will quickly follow 
the inspiration of such an alluring example and during 
the next twenty years Jacksonville will be the theatre of 
many vast public enterprises, fortunes will be made in 
every industry, and hundreus now living in the Queen 
City of the St. Johns will acquire and enjoy the luxuriea 
of wealth. Jacksonville offers all that is real, solid, hope- 
ful, and each citizen can leel proud to know that he Is 
idantilied with a city whose glories he can proudly pro- 
claim at all times and in all lands. 

The principal agricultural products for 1902, were aa 
follows : 

Value. 

Corn, bushels, 2G,C45 113,030 

Sweet iK)tatoes, bushels, 71,187 28,734 

Syrup, barrels, 1,081 1U,776 

Irish potatoes, bushels. 4,738 4,503 

Tomatoes, cratf s, 8,279 7,413 

Watermelcns, car loads, 161 8,752 

Strawberries, quarts, 24,564 2,979 

Peaches, bushels, 1,298 1,080 

Live stock on hand, as follows: 

Horses, number, 623 41,857 

Mules, number, 202 17,260 

Stock cattle, number, 7,354 50,909 

Hogs, number 4,873 11,601 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 23,690 8.223 

Milk, sold and used, gallons, 271,731 54,810 



ESCAMBIA COUNTY. 

Is bounded on the north and west by the State of Ala- 
bama, on the east by Santa Rosa County, and on the 
south by the Gulf of Mexico. 

Escambia County, situated at the western evtremity of 
Florida, embraces an area of 668 square miles of land 
surface, richly diversified with lowland and upland, and 



3C3 

abundantly watered by numerous running streams. Its 
climate is as nearly perfect as any on the contiutnt, be- 
ing a delightful and healthful combination of the -'piney- 
woods" atmosphere with the Gulf breezes. The monthly 
minimum temperature at the Pensacola Weather I'.ureau 
Station in 1900, for example, for the three winter months 
was: December, 3G; January, 23; February, I!). The 
monthly maximum temperature for the thn^e summer 
months was: June, 92; July, 90; August, 07. The an- 
nual rainfall for the same year was 70.82 inches. The 
soil is varied in quality, ranging from the blncic alluvial 
of the river and creek bottoms to the shallow sandy loam 
of the pine ridges, with yellow clay sub-soil near enough 
to the surface to insure fertility. 

The population of the county, in 1900, was 28,313, be- 
ing an increase of more than 40 per cent, during the ile- 
cade ending with that year, the increase for the entire 
State, for the same perrod, being only thirty-five per cent. 
During the twenty years, ending with 1900, the incre'ise 
was nearly 183 per cent. The population is divided be- 
tween the races, as follows: White, 16,384; colorird, 
11,929. The principal crops are corn, cotton, (upland) 
oats, potatoes, cane, rice, hay, dairy and poultry products 
and live stock. Stock-raising has recently become a lead- 
ing industry and a Pensacola corporation is engaged in 
extensive experimental operations, in the northwest cor- 
ner of the county and the adjoining county in Alabama, 
with common native stock, improved by cross-breeding, 
and by feeding for a small portion of the winter with the 
vines of the velvet bean and the roots of the cassava plant. 

The apigregate valuation of taxable property in the 
county, for the year 1902, was |5,859,604, of which. 
13,724,740 represents real estate, fl,241,840 personalty 
and $893,024 railroad and telegraph proi>erty. The total 
shows an increase for the decade just ending of nearly 
52 per cent. The total taxation on this valuation is sev- 
enteen mills; five for State and twelve for county pur- 
poses. 

The public schools of the county number 67, of which 
48 are for white pupils and 19 for colored. White teach- 
ers employed, 83; colored, 28; total, 111. Pupils en- 
rolled : White, 3,205 ; colored, 1,858 ; total, 4,850. Aver- 
age attendance: White, 2,178; colored, 1,007; total, 



364 

3,185. The expenditures for the year ending June oO, 
1902, were |42,615.50. The value of school property in 
the county, for the same year, was : Lots, $16,025 ; build- 
ings, 145,120; furniture, $11,715; apparatus, |2,310; to- 
tal, $75,170. In the city of Pensacola, a splendid high 
Bchool and several graded schools are maintained by the 
school board, besides which a number of private schools, 
including a classical preparatory school, are liberally 
patronized. The public schools are open from October 1 
to June 1, excepi^ during the mid-w^inter holidays. 

There are eighteen postoffices in the county, and one 
rural delivery route of about 30 miles. Most of these 
places are mere villages, the city of Pensacola being the 
only incorporated place in the county. Railroad trans- 
portation includes a short line westward from Pensacola 
to the timber and lumber mills on Perdido Bay and river, 
the Pensacola and Atlantic division of the Louisville and 
Nashville system, extending from Pensacola eastward to 
Eiver Junction, where it connects with the Seaboard Air 
Line system, and a short line from Pensacola northward, 
Pensacola division of the Louisville and Nashville sys- 
tem, connecting with the main line from Montgomery and 
all points North, East and West, to Mobile and New Or- 
leans. This line carries the fast mail service between 
Kew York and New Orleans, and makes the direct mail 
connections of Pensacola very quick and satisfactory. 

Pensacola, the second largest city in the State, had in 
1900 a population of 17,747, an increase for the ten years 
then ending of nearly 51 per cent. At this writing, two 
years after the census, the population is. believed to be not 
less than 20,000. Situated on the shore of one of Flori- 
da's most beautiful bays, which constitutes the deepest 
and most capacious harbor on the Atlantic or Gulf 
coasts, south of Newport News, Pensacola is destined to 
be, as stated by the well-known Major F. A. Mahan, of 
the U. S. Engineer Corps, "the loading port south of New- 
port News." As a port of export, it already exhibits a 
growth that promises the early fulfillment of Major Ma- 
han's prophecy. 

The aggregate value of exports from Pensacola to for- 
eign ports, for the final year, ending June 30, 1902, was 
$14,480,281, an increase of moi-e than 80 per cent, in five 
years and nearly 386 per cent, in ten years. The list of 



3C5 

articles of export includes, besides the staple local pro- 
ducts of lumber and timber, coal, cotton, tobacco, grain of 
all kinds, cotton seed products, naval stores, pig iron, 
phosphate rock, and large quantities of machinery and 
merchandise. Vessels of all nations enter for cargoes to 
the number of over 51)0 each year. A large modern ele- 
vator facilitates the shipment of grain, and extensive 
docks and warehouses accommodate the constantly grow- 
ing traffic with foreign lands. 

The city has a first-class telephone system, connected 
with the adjacent long-distance systems, electric street 
cars and lights, a complete and satisfactory water sys- 
tem, and a complete sewerage system, to supplement a 
partial system already installed, is in contemplation; the 
principal business stnvt is brick-paved. It has three 
national banks, with a total capital of $400,000; churches 
of all denominations, and a number of flourishing manu- 
facturing industries. 

At the mouth of the harbor (whose entrance throi^h a 
channel less than a mile in length, has a depth of 30 
feet), the U. S. Navy Yard occupies a commanding posi- 
tion and is amply protected by old Fort Pickens, imme- 
diately opposite, and by Fort Barrancas and Fort McRae 
farther down towards the open sea. All of these, as well 
as the U. S. Life Saving Station on Santa Rosa Island, 
and the remains of two ancient Spanish forts within the 
city, are objects of profound interest to all visitors and 
strangers. 

The Pensacola Chamber of Commerce and Young Men's 
Business League are devoted to the commercial and indus- 
trial interests of the city, and their secretaries will gladly 
resy)ond to any request for detailed information concern- 
ing it. 

The agricultural products for 1D02 are as follows: 

Valne. 

Fpland cotton, bales. 344 $ L^ 020 

Corn, bushpls. 30.005 31388 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 81,285 30.876 

Rvrup, barrels. 523 1 0.440 

Hay. tons. 1 .049 25.045 

lr»«h potatoes, bushels, 3,875 3.875 

Cabbage, crates, 4,900 2,525 



36G 

Pecan nuts, bushels, 130 650 

Pears, barrels, 2,000 2,000 

Peaches, bushels, 1,445 1,445 

Live stock on hand as follows: 

Horses, number, 1,431 119,730 

Mules, number, 413 53,100 

Stock cattle, number, 12,852 128.520 

Sheep, number, 6,845 14,140 

Hogs, number, 4,2^6 7,418 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 74,675 19,600 



FRANKLIN COUNTY. 

Franklin County is bounded on the north bv Liberty 
County, on the east and south by the Gulf of Mexico, and 
on the west by Calhonn rour»ty. 

It has an area of 731 square miles of land surface, or 
467,240 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 3,308, and in 1900 it was 
4,890, of which number 2,648 were white and 2,242 were 
negroes. 

In 1901 it maintained 6 schools, of which 4 were white 
and 2 were for negroes. 

THE CITY OF APALACHICOLA. 

Situated at the mouth of the Analachicola Pivpr— a 
noble stream, 136 miles in length, which is formed by Ihe 
confluence of the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers, each 
more than five hundred miles in lens-th — is Ihe « ity of 
Apalachicola, the cour^tv sent of Franklin County. ,,,, 

Its p-eosraphical popjti^n alone shows to tbe most sn^icr- 
ficial obsprver its wo^derfn] natuT'al advantap'Pf, and when 
to those is added an unrivaled climate, a so'l canable of 
producing in abundance anything, (from the fi"p«t sea 
island cotton to thp tnble doliracies of strnwberries and 
pinenrtnles.) a bay filled with the finest flavored ovsteni 
an'l fish to be found on the Onlf or Atlantic ronst«. it 
will be sp°n that Nflt"rp >ias been morp than lavish of ber 
bonntv. aTi ot^Iv mnn's ln1>or nnd investment are needed 
to reap four-fold the richest harvest. 



:4(>7 
BRIEFLY mSTOKICAL. 

That Ihis was a locality peculiarly favored by the In- 
dians, is shown in the nnniber of Indian mounds in the 
vicinity, and the many relics of pottery, arms and uten- 
sils to be found even yet on the shores and islands near. 
These natives were scattered by the usurping white man, 
and ( ivilization, followirg fast in the steps of coloniza- 
tion, planted cities and towns, while commerce spuead her 
white wings to bring to them fortune and favor; thus 
Apalachicola, with her natural harbor and sheltering 
island*', became one of the first important Gulf ports. 
The rivers were then the great highways of the country, 
and the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, Flint and Chipola 
rivers were the life and food-supplying arteries to the 
heart of the vast inland portions of the States of Georgia, 
Florida and Alabama. It was, therefore, as a matter of 
course, that as early in the last century as 1835, Apala- 
chicola stood third in importance as a cotton port on the 
Gulf Coast. 

The wealth of the South, up to the years of the CivSl 
War, was reprrsented by her cot I on, and a large area of 
the cotton plantations of Georgia and Alabama's fertile 
fields was adjacent to, or bordering on the trijautaries of 
the Apalachi ola River, and this entire product found its 
nearest market by way of the Gulf. Thus, the port of 
Apalachicola, with the commerce of nations at her door, 
and the wealth of a vast interior heaped in compressed 
whiteness on her streets, became a veritable metropolis of 
the South, and during the months of the cotton season 
was a scene of great financial activity. Buyers from 
^Northern cities, from Liverpool, London, Paris, and many 
other foreign markets competed with each other, and for- 
tunes were made while men slept. In the year 18G0, the 
commerce of the city amounted to fourteen millions of 
dollars. 

Then came the dark days of the Civil War. when homes 
were desolated and fortunes lost, when families were 
scattered, and mourning tille' the land. Aualachi ola 
shrire^ with other cities of the South, a^inihilf^tinn (if 
business, privation and loss; but worse still for her waa 
the revohition in liattV an ' travel. whi( h .-Jtr^K k m 'leath 
blow to her cotton trade. Railroads, spanning the broad 



3G8 

State of JGeorgia brought to the planter more speedy trans- 
portation for his cotton to Atlantic ports, and placed Lim 
in daily communication with cities for the necessities aiid 
Bupplies of his family and dej.^ndents. The slower, and 
sometimes dangerous transportation by river was almost 
abandoned, and as time went on, steamers rotted at their 
moorings, and the streets of this once populous city were 
grass grown and silent, while her brick warehouses and 
wharves became ruins. 

But there were loyal hearts, who clung to and believed 
in her still, and when the impoverished [South, under sad- 
ly charged conditions, faced the problem of a new future, 
here, as elsewhere, brave hearts and strong wills won the 
victory. 

THE PRESENT. 

Little more than three decades have gone by, and look 
again at the city by the sea, which sat in ruins and liv<;d 
but in retrospect. The unlimited resources of Nature have 
been invoked and from her boundless store new sources 
of wealth have sprung up, which promise to eclipse the 
past. The forests of cypress and yellow pine have become 
the most valuable commodity of modern commerce, and 
again the ships of all nations wait in her harbor to carry 
to all parts of the civilized world the finished product of 
her mills, and the valuable quantities of naval stores, 
which are constantly in demand. Again the streets of 
Apalachicola are filled with life and business activity. 
The roar and clamor of steam sawmills, the shrieking 
whistles of tugs and steamers towing logs and barges of 
lumber, the daily arriving and departing steamers from 
points on the river and Gulf, the whistles of canning fac- 
tories, planing mills and sash, door and blind factoriea, 
are tangible evidences of prosperity. Two large saw- 
mills within the city limits (one of them the largest In 
the South) and three more at distances three to six miles 
tip the river, each with an average daily product of fifty 
thonsand feet of lumber, give employment to an army of 
skilled and unskilled workmen, while in the important 
industry of catching, cannir^ and shipping oysters and 
flsh a large fleet of boats and many men are engaged. A 
daily Bteamer crosses the bay to Carrabelle, connecting 



309 

with the C. T. & G. Railroad, for the accommodation of 
passengers and mail, besides the daily arriving and de- 
parting river steamers, with passengers, mail and freight 
from Columbus, Ga., and all intermediate points. 

The population of Apalachicola, in common with the 
rest of the State of Florida, has increased one-third in the 
last decade. It bas a population of 3,077, as per census 
of 1900, and the lovalty and faith of those, who, since her 
dark days, have believed in her future, and given brain 
and money to achieve it, is rewarded in her constantly in- 
creasing prosperity. 

The record of the past year is little short of wonder- 
ful. In May, 10(10, a destrudive fire swejjt over the busi- 
ness part of the city, leaving it a blackened waste of ruins. 
A church, opera house, two hotels, armory, ice factory, 
warehou?:es, wharves, and sixty-five business houses were 
completely destroyed. It was a catastrophe which tried 
the temper of men's souls; but the loyalty and enterprise 
of the citizens, the true American "grit," which never 
acknowledges defeat, were displayed in that crisis, as 
everywhere. Before the ashes were cold, ground was be- 
ing cleared for rebuilding, and in less than one year much 
of the burned district has been rebuilt in a superior and 
more snbstant'al manner than before, and work is still 
going on. Buildings erected since the fire are estimated 
at a co«t of $85,000, and those in course of construction 
at $55,000. 

THE FUTURE. 

The future of the city was never bn^^htpr, and th?re 
have been no backward steps in the mnrch of Progress. 
It is but one year since the electric lighting of the city 
was sucrpssfullv accomnlisher'. and row the wor-k of hor- 
inff artesian wells for the supply of a wnter works svst«m 
is being carried on with enerary and with every indication 
of success. Mopf important, bowpvpr. i«i the nroject for 
thp dppT>pn''n<? of tbp rhanr>pl to West Pass, the nearest 
and most direct outlet to the Gulf. The immense bene- 
fit this would confer upon the city and entire con»itrr 
adiacpnt is po annnrp^t. fh^f ati aspocia+i'^n bn« !».»on 
formed of representative business men of Florida, Geor- 

24 H P 



370 

gia and Alabama, all earnest, wide-awake men of the 
times, who are sanguine of seeing ocean-going vesstHs at 
the wharves of Apalathicola at no distant day. A aur- 
vey ordered by Congress has been made for this channel 
with the most favorable results, and the senators of three 
States have been memorialized to work for the necesairy 
appropriation. 

With deep water to the wharves, the commerce oT the 
city will be more than doubled, and the whole terrilory 
bordering on four great rivers, while contributing Ic its 
business activity, will itself re, eive immense iii'jrcial 
benefit. 

The security of harbor and city from storms atid gales 
is seen in the long, low, s;ind islands lying between the 
bay and Gulf, which are Natnre's pn.tection to the in- 
land shores. They are nearly one-half mile \vi«ie at the 
nanowest part, and furnish a bulwark, which receives 
the first shock of wind and wave, and thus pHjttMts ibe 
land from the full fury of equatorial stornis. No such 
horrible catastrophe as the destruction af Galveston could 
ever devastate Apalachicola. Fhe sits secure behind a 
natural breakwater and wide, intervenirg hay. 

The equable and healthful climate of this section is 
always a matter of surprise to strangers. It is nowhei-e 
surpassed, and only equaled by that of raiifornis:. Ic 
which it is often compared by those who have experienced 
both. The average temperature for the entire sumvner 
months is 8G degrees, with an almost invariable, str(>n::> 
Gulf brppve, whit h is healthful and toning vrA without 
the debilitatirg warmth, whi<h the Droyimity of the Gnlf 
stream imjjnrts to the sea brec/es of the eastern coast; 
the maximum temperature is flR to 08 decrees. S-in- 
8trol-e is rtiLrown, and the death rate will compare fav- 
orably with the most healthful city in fho T'nito:! St^'tea, 
being an a'^nuai twelve per cent, prr thonsant^ When 
there shnll be made known to tho worH the attra^tioTis 
and i>ossi'bilitips of Western Flor'f'a. tl»<» r-onT»!''»r»i!il. :is»- 
ricnlturnl a"d industrial d^vlo'^^ip^t of Frankli.i County 
will astonish even the proverbial old settler. 



371 

APALACHICOLA'S EXPORTS AND IMPORTS. 

Herewith is attached a report taken from the Custoia 
House, showino: the amonrt of business <:rausacted at 
Apalachicola for twelve months: 

Vessels entered from foreipfn ports 119 

Vessels cleared for foreijjn ports 77 

Vessels entered from dome'='tio ports 21 

Vessels cleared for domestic ports G3 

FOREIGN SHIPMENTS. 

Value. 

Rosin. 52.7Gt barrels $ 70,200. Of} 

Turpepti'^p. ^OJ^r^ o-allors !4..5oS.pO 

Sawn timber 12,383 M. feet 143.481 .00 

Hewn timber, 1G,482 cubic feet 25,4(;4 .00 

Boards, deals and planks, n,546 M. feet 14!).nr/.).oa 

Shinjrles, 84.000 .'^i2.00 

Scantlinsr, 4G0 M. feet 5.736.00 

Miscellaneous 10,106.00 

Total Foreign $428,666.00 

COASTWISE SHIPMENTS. 

Lumber, 25.773 M. feet $457,730.00 

Shingles. 150,000 600.00 

Rosin, 21,490 barrels 42.880.00 

Total Coastwise 1501,310.00 

r 

Total Shipments, Foreign and Coastwise. . .$929,976.00 

IMPORTS. 

Value, 

Salt, 15.108 sacks $10oon o'l 

Turtle shells. 14 boxes 1,211.0(1 

Cocoanuts. 22,000 214.00 

Miscellaneous 220.00 

Total $11,707.00 

Num^ier of »^essels arrived, which do not enter and 
clear. 107. 

Tonnage, 12,500. 



372 

Number of vessels departing, which, do not cl6ar at 
Custom House, 110. 

Tonnage, 13,000. 

Estimated arrivals and departures of river steamers for 
Georgia and Alabama, 750. 

Tonnage, 90,000. 

Oysters and fish shipped, 12,500 barrels. 

The value of merchandise, lumber and other sources of 
revenue, whi( h tl e Custom Houpe keeps no record, can be 
placed at |1,250,000 to |1,500,000. 

THE CHURCHES. 

Apalachicola ha<^ four churches with large congrega- 
t'*nns, vi''-: Methodist. Catholic, Eoisconal and Baptist. 
The colored people also have several churches. 

SECRET SOCIETIES. 

Apalachioola has a number of secret societies, viz : Ma- 
gonic. Knights of Pythias, Knights of Honor and Wood- 
men of the World. The Catholic Knights also have a 
large following; also the Catholic Total Abstinence So- 
ciety. The American Federation of Labor also has a 
large membership at this place. 

HOW TO REACH APALACHICOLA. 

Apalachicola has a tri-weekly line of steamers that con- 
nect with the Seaboard Air Line, Atlantic Coast Line and 
Louisville and Nashville Railway systems at Chattahoo- 
chee. There is also a triweekly line of steamers from Co- 
Inmbus. Ga., to Apalachicola. The steamer Crescent 
Citv makes a round trip daily ffom Apnlarhicola to Carra- 
belle, connecting with the C. T. & G. Railwav, the latter 
road making connections with the Seaboard Air Line 
Railway at Tallahassee. Yon ran take a r^'ver steamer 
at Columbus or Bainbndge. Ga.. or Chnttahooohee. then 
take a bay trip on the Crescpt City t^* Carr^hpll". and at 
Carrabelle board the train for any point in the Stnt*»; or, 
yon TmVbt revers** it pp'1 ptnrt in at. sav. Ja^ksoTivil'p; fo 
to Tallahassee, the capital, where yon ran take the P.. T. 
& G. Railway train, go to Carrabelle, visit Apalachicola, 



373 

and at Apalachicola take passage on one of our elegant 
river steamers for points in Georgia and Alabama. Any 
.way you take it, you will have a pleasant trip. 

OUR HARBOR AND BAY. 

St. George Sound is forty miles in length, extending 
from Indian Pass to Lanark. The harbor is protected 
from gales by St. Vincent, St. George and Dcg Islands. 
Splendid anchorage is had in this Sound. West Pass, 
now with a depth of sixteen feet of water, is six miles 
from Apalachicola. The matter of deepenirg this chan- 
nel to a depth of eighteen feet to the wharves at Apala- 
chicola has occupied the attention of the government for 
Bome time. Columbus, Ga., and Eufaula, Ala., are 
heartily in accord with Apalachicola in this project, and 
an association has been formed of business men from 
Apalachicola and Columbus, known as the Deep Water 
Association. The work of this association was very pro- 
nounced last year, and the project was down in the 
Congressional bill for |41,000, at the last session of Con- 
gress; but the River and Harbor Bill was defeated by be- 
ing talked to death. Our people are now led to believe 
that West Pass will fare handsomely by the next Con- 
gress. 

OUR INDUSTRIES. 

By reason of the vast quantities of cheap pine and 
cypress timber on the rivers, Franklin County is essen- 
tially the home of the sawmill. In this county there 
are some seven large sawmills, each of them with a daily 
capacity of forty thousand to seventy thousand feet of 
lumber per day. Two of these mills are situated at 
Carrabelle. 

In addition, we have one of the largest sash, door and 
blind factories in the State. 

Considerable business is also done here in hewn and 
square timber, which is floated down the river from Geor- 
gia and Alabama. 

The nearby river swamps furnish large quantities of 
red and white cedar, black and white cypress, walnut, 
agh, gum, bay, cotton-wood and many other varieties of 



374 

timber. Timber is rafted and floated down the river to 
the sawmills at Apalachieola, and many hundreds of 
people are engaged in this business. Timber is worth 
from |5 to $8 per thousand superficial feet at the mills 
in Apalachieola. 

Among Apalachicola's other industries is the catch- 
ing and shipping of fish and oysters, and not a few 
sponges. Apalachieola Bay furnishes more oysters than 
any other bay south of the Chesapeake, ^nd thousands of 
bushels are shipped every winter in the shell, also opened 
and shipped in tubs, and the Apalachieola cove ovster, 
like its fresher mate, has a national reputation. Large 
quantities of both fresh and salt fish are shipped from 
this point. 

The catching and preparation of sturgeon and caviar 
has recently been added to Apalachicola's other indus- 
tries, and thousands of pounds of these fish are now sent 
out, mostly to the Northern markets. These fish are in 
this vicinity in crreat abundance and many people are 
erijiaged in catching them. They are caught from the 
fresh water streams, although they are a native of the 
Bait water. Apalachieola Bay also furnishes large quan- 
tities of tarpon — perhaps a larger quantity than any other 
bay on the Gulf Coast. Shrimp and crabs are also here 
in abundance. 

CARRABELLE 

Is situated on St. James Island, twenty-five miles from 
Apalachieola. Carrabelle is the terminus of the C, T. & 
G. Railway. This road begins at Tallahassee and enda 
at Carrabelle. At Carrabelle, the side-wheel steamer 
Crescent City connects with the C, T. & G. Railway daily, 
making a round trip from Carrabelle to Apalachicola. 
The distance is twenty-five miles, and is through St. 
George's Sound, a beautiful body of water. Tarrabelle is 
situated on St. James Island, Franklin County, and was 
settled by Mr. O. K. Kellv. about 1870. It now has a 
population of about one thousand ; has two sawmills, sev- 
eral mercantile establishments and other enterprises. 
Six miles from Carrabelle is Ea«t Pass, a famous harbor 
of the Gulf Coast, Nineteen feet of water are safely 
carried over the bar at East Pass. The anchorage 



375 



grounds inside the harbor cannot be excelled in the State, 
and the lumber and naval stores shipped through this 
harbor amount to a large amount in dollars. The citizens 
of Carrabelle are hosi>itable and enterprising and wel- 
come those who come to cast their lot with them. Carra- 
belle is also a sub-port of entry. 

Following are the exports and their value from Carra- 
belle for the year 1902 : 



Carrabelle. 



Quantities Valua 



Salt fish, U. S 

Fresh fish, U. S 

Oysters, U. S 

Lumber, U. S 

Oysters, U. S 

Kosin, U. S 

Spirits turpentine, U. S. 

Lumber, foreign 

Rosin, foreign 

Spirits turpentine, for'gn 



Pounds. , 
Pounds. , 
Gallons. . 
Sup feet. 
Barrels. . 
Barrels. . 
Barrels. . 
Sup fe3t. 
Barrels. . 
Barrels. . 



43.nnn 

727,500 

13,875 

10,330,000 

730 

» 10,731 

51 9' 

7,317,745 

40,912 

5,012 



; 1.505 
23,934 

ii,ioa 

14,462 

912 

58.558 

12,975 

104,774 

143,192 

125,300 



Total exports | | .]$ 490,712 

McINTYRE. 

It also situated on St. James Island, Franklin County. 
At this point a sawmill is being successfully conducted. 
The Ockolockness River furnishes water transportation 
and the C, T. & G. Railway furnishes railroad transpor- 
tation. 

LAKE WIMNICO. 



Probably one of the handsomest fresh water lakes in 
the State of Florida is Lake Wimnico, situated some fif- 
teen miles above Apalarhicola. This lake, made famous 
hv Tiulipn snptr and ftorv, rreasurcs some five by ten 
miles, and abounds in bass, bream, perch and other fish 
usually found in the fresh water streams of the South. 
Several creeks empty their waters into the lake. Lake 
Wimniro is said to have been a irreat resort for the In- 
dians who inhabited this part of Florida years ago, and 



'6Ui 

many mounds built by them can now be seen on the 
shores of this magniticent body of water. Deer, turkey, 
wild ducks and geese are here in abundance, while 
©'possums, squirrels and raccoons fall easy prey to the 
huntsman. Utters aie also sought in this neighborhood 
and many of them are captured and sold at much profit. 

LAJSfARK, 

Some five miles from Carrabelle, on the line of the C, 
T. & G. Railway, offers special inducements for those who 
enjoy the Gulf breezes. A magnificent hotel, owned by 
the C., T. & G. Railway, is at this point. This place is 
an ideal spot for summer recreation, and for salt water 
sports in winter, |or fish and wild fowl. 

ST. TERESA, 

Franklin County, is situated on the Gulf of Mexico, 
and is a famous resort for those who appreciate the in- 
vigorating breezes of the Gulf of Mexico. Hotel accom- 
modations are good, and no better fishing grounds are 
found along the Gulf. The elevation is 30 feet above tide 
water, and there is a lovely bay and fine white smooth 
beach four miles long in front. 

FRANKLIN'S SCHOOLS. 

Good school facilities are afforded in Franklin County. 
Free schools for the children of both races are provided. 
There are also a number of private schools, notable 
among which is the Convent, presided over by those de- 
vout women, the Sisters. The free schools are in opera- 
tion about six months of the year. 

FRANKLIN COUNTY STOCK. 

This is a fine grazing county. As there is very little 
fencing, the cattle have almost the entire county to run 
in. In summer the wire grass is fine. There are also 
other summer grasses. In winter there is Bermuda and 
other winter grasses, and some cave. The cattle also 
feed on the shrubbery, which they find in the swamps. 



377 

The wintei-s, as a rule, are mild, and in summer the cat- 
tle get fat and are killed off the range for market. There 
is an abundance of fresh water for them and there has 
never been any disease among the cattle in this section of 
the {State, and cattle and beef bring good prices. 

TRUCKING 

Has not been generally observed in this section, 
although we have a number of very successful truckers. 
"Vegetables grow here in abundance and of a very supe- 
rior kind. Our fruits are of a superior flavor. In times 
past oranges were successfully grown here, but the re- 
peated cold winters retarded this industry. Grapes of 
superior excellence are grown in this section. 

HONEY. 

The people of this section have demonstrated beyond 
dispute that Franklin County is a point where the 
apiarist gathers largely from the returns. A number of 
our people are engaged in this profitable industry, and 
everyone of them has made money out of the business. 

LANDS AND PRODUCTS. 

The East Bay settlement is situated at the head of 
East Bay, twelve miles from Apalachicola. There are 
several large creeks flowing into this bay. These creeks 
have their head waters far out in the back-woods, flow- 
ing from thence through all the timbered lands to the bay, 
thus giving good opportunities for wooding and lumber- 
ing. These lands are well timbered, giving an almost 
inexhaustible supplj^ of pine and light wood. Logging 
and wooding are very paying businesses and form very 
important factors among the money-making industries of 
this section of Franklin County. Pine logs bring from 
$5 to $7.50 per one thousand superficial feet, and wood 
$2.50 per cord at the market. Beside these sources of 
revenue, a better field for the turpentine industry is not 
to be found within the State. The timber is here in am- 
ple quantities to warrant the establishment of this busi- 
ness, together with all the advantages necessary to war- 
rant an easy success in the business. 



:j78 

LANDS. SOIL, PRODUCTS, ETC. 

Lands — The lands may be divided into two divisions, 
viz: pine land and marsh land. The pine land is gener- 
ally low and level. 

Soil — The soil is of a black and heavy character, being 
very productive. It is naturally adapted to the growth 
of the sugar-cane, sweet potatoes, melons and all kinds of 
vegetables, Apalathitola being a ready market for all the 
farm products raised in this section of the county. 

Formerly, and at present, the attention devoted to hor- 
ticulture was, and is, solely for the home markets; but 
there is no reason why this business cannot be expanded 
to reach the Northern markets. The great quantities, to 
the acre, of all kinds of garden vegetables, which are, and 
can be, produced; the accessibility of quick transporta- 
tion, and early sprirg trcps, all go to prove beyond ques- 
tion that gardening for Northern n arkets can be devel- 
oped and will bring satisfactory returns. 

SUGAR-CANE. 

This crop does wonderfully well. We have been in this 
portion of the county for fourteen years, a^id have never 
ssen a failure in this crop. Though there have been some 
unfavorable seasons, yet we can say, without the least 
hesitation, that we have never known this <rop to be very 
materially injured, as very good yields have always been 
given, even under unfavorable circunjstances. The writer 
saw sugar-cane on exhibition in Atlanta, in 1895, from 
the great cane-growing State of Louisiana, and was never 
more surnrised, as the care we left growing in the fielda 
at East Bay (and it being the 1st of December, at that) 
was so far ahead of any cane we saw there that there 
was no comparison. We have seen cane growing here 
under favorable conditions that would simply strike any 
man in the United States with ama/.ement- It was in tas- 
sel from center to circninfercnce. and the great height 
and diameter and quantity, to the acreage, was wonderful 
to see. On entering very far into this cane patch, it 
would make one feel as if he were in some forest — the 
habitation of wild beasts. Statistics obtained from the 
most prominent farmers show that 375 gallons of syrup 



379 

to the acre are an averrge crop, while 525 gallons have 
been produced. This syrup is of the finest flavor and 
commands the highest prices in the market. 

Watermelons grow very large and are of the highest 
grade, as to flavor, etc. From eight hundred to one thou- 
sand saleable melons are produced to the acre. One hun- 
dred and fifty bushels of sweet potatoes are an average 
crop to the acre, and a much higher y^eld is often ob- ' 
tained. Irish potatoes grow well ; but little attention is 
given to their culture. Onions are grown and sold by 
the bunch with tops on; $51) have been realized from less 
than one-eighth of an acre. Cucumbers, squashes, cab- 
bages, tomatoes and musk-melons all yield well and bring 
good results. Corn and cow peas can be raised to an 
advantage. Grapes and scuppernongs, strawberries, 
pears, [«lums and other fruits grow abundantly, with 
proper attention. 

MAKSH LANDS. 

While these lands are not utilized in any way, except 
for grazing of herds of cattle, yet there are no better 
lands in the United States for the cultivation of rice, and 
that in immense quantities. One man, who possesses 
good and fair ju^'gment, and who has been among the 
great rice plantations of Scmth Carolina since he was a 
boy, on looking over these marsh lands, said that he 
never saw better advantages for the culture of rice in 
South Carolina nor anywhere else. 

There are two banks, with ample capital, in Apalachi- 
cola, both doing a flourishing business ; one is the Capital 
City — branch of the bank of the same name in Tallahas- 
see, Fla., and the other, the First National Bank of Apa- 
lachicola. 

The principal agricultural products of 1902 are as fol- 
lows : 

Value. 

Com, bushels, 195 | 197 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 1,750 925 

Syrup, barrels, 190 2,850 

Watermelons, car loads, 12 600 ' 

Live stock on hand as follows: 
Cattle, number, 1,935 9,675 



380 

It is but fair to state that, while Franlilin County, has 
large quantities of good land for agricultural and horti- 
cultural purposes, it has until recent years been so iso- 
lated that only such crops as were desirable for home 
' consumption were planted, there being little or no mar- 
ket for a surplus. Under proper direction and encour- 
agement, this county would present a fine field for truck 
gardening and fruit growing, its geographical position 
giving it great advantages in many respects. 



GADSDEN COUNTY. 

This county is bounded on the north by the S,tate of 
Georgia, on the east by LCon County, on the south by 
Leon and Liberty Counties, and on the west by Liberty 
and Jackson Counties. 

It has an area of 500 square miles of land surface or 
320,000 acres. 

In 1890, it had a population of 11,894, and in 1900 it 
had 15,294, of which number 5,438 were white and 
9,856 were negroes. 

At the end of the school .term of 1901, there were being 
maintained 79 schools, of which number 40 wei-e white 
and 39 were for negroes. 

Gadsden is on? of the finest agricultural counties of 
Florida, and for many years has been among the prosper- 
ous sections of the State, Her land? are excellent, 
ranging in character from heavy red clay, with forests 
of hard wood timber, to light sandy soil, with growth of 
pine timber and have for years been a source of wealth 
to her citizens. No county in Florida, or, indeed, any- 
where, has better facilities for water ])Ower thnn Gads- 
den. There is scarcely a township in the county that has 
not one or more water powers cai)able of doing the grind- 
ing, sawing and other domestic manufacturing for the 
neighborhood, and in many places these advantages are 
Buch that some day they must attract the attention of 
mill-men, who are on the lookout for eligible sites for 
manufactories in the south. 

For 15 years tobacco growing has been the leading in- 
dustry, the crop of one year often amounting to as much 



381 

as from one and a half million to 2,000,000 pounds. This 
county is the home of the "tobacco renaissance," and its 
development has been phenomenal. The variety princi- 
pally planted is Sumatra, v/hich is cultivated under 
shade; tliis tobacco from this county took the gold medal 
at the late Paris Exposition. Cotton is also a staple. 

Rice, peas, pinders and oats ara increasing crops. 
Irish potatoes, cabbages, onions and all the vegetables 
are luxuriant. Kecent experiments have demonstrated 
that "tinck-farming-' will ba a leading industry, and 
high hopes are entertained now that the facilities afforded 
for transportation by the several railroads that traverse 
the county from all isides, have established convenient 
shipping points. 

The topography of the county is generally rolling, and 
in some sections quite hilly, the greatest elevation in tha 
county being given as 373 feet. 

The County Seat is Quincy, which has a population of 
847, The town is the headquarters of the large tobacca 
growing companies, and does a large business of all 
kinds; it has excellent banking facilities, churches and 
schools; has a telephone system, water works and electric 
lights. 

Chattahoochee, or Kiver Junction, practically one, is 
the seat of the State Asylum for the Insane, and is th3 
junction of the S. A. L. and A. C. L. railroad systems, 
and also has steamboat connection with Columbus, Ga., 
and intermediate towns, and also with Apalachicola ou 
the Gulf. 

The only mineral deposits of special value known. Is 
Fullers Earth ; the county also abounds in fine kaolin 
clays, but only the Fullers Earth has been mined for 
commerce. 

The principal agricultural products for 1902 were as 
follows : 

Value. 

Corn, bushels, 195,150 $195,150 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 97,380 38.953 

Syrup, barrels, 6,227 62.270 

Hav, tons, 578 5.780 

Peanuts, bushels, 86,432 86,432 

Tobacco, pounds, 1,055,647 325,769 



382 

Live stock on hand: 

Horses, number, 1,521 129,835 

Mules, number, 533 43,730 

Stock cattle, number, 6,150 30,750 

Hogs, number, 6,825 27,767 

Poultry, all kinds, number 78,849 191,936 



HAMILTON COUNTY. 

Hamilton County, in the northern part of the State is 
bounded on the north by the Georgia line, on the east 
and south by the Suwannee river and on the v/est by the 
Withlacoochee river. It is the smallest county in the 
State, being forty miles long from east to west, with am 
average width of sixteen miles. But though small in 
area it is large in its industries, its resources and its 
natural advantages. 

This county has an area of 508 square miles of land 
fiBrface, or 325,120 acres. Its population in 1890, was 
8,507, and in 19U0 it was 11,881, of which number, 6,505 
were white, and 5,376, were negroes. 

At the end of the school term in 1901, it was support- 
ing 57 schools, 40 of which were for whites and 17 for 
negroes. 

Jasper, the County Site, situated ninety miles a little 
north of west from Jacksonville, is a flourishing town of 
more than one thousand inhabitants and has long ranked 
as the best market for sea island cotton in a large area 
of territory. It has a good bank, telephone system, ice 
plant and a fine system of waterworks. The Methodist 
and Baptist denominations, each, have flourishing 
churches here who worehip in good, commodious houses. 
Here are also flourishing lodges of secret societies, such 
a3 Masons, Knights of Pj'thias, etc. Its people are gen- 
erous, hosr)itable and progresj^ive. 

The county possesses as srood and handso»i>e public 
buildings as are to be found :n the Stal-^. The jnil is a 
substnntial fireproof structure fitted with the most ap- 
proved make of steel cells, while the brick court house. 
tr"ti'??ir^r1 with stone, is on« of t'l? rn-ettipst 1n architec- 
tural design in the State . Steel brid^^es of the hitrst de- 



383 

signs span the rivers and K-i-eeks which are so numerous 
in th-is county. 

The climate is all that could be desired, being just cold 
enough in the winter to keep in subjection liie insect 
life which is injurious to vegetation, and to "enable the 
farmers to successfully convert their pork into bacon, 
many thousands pounds of which is curea annu:iily. The 
thermometer rarely goes below the freezing point in 
winter. The summers are delightful and real hot weather 
is seldom experienced. But one of the most delightfuf 
experience's of summer here is, that the nights are always 
deliciously cool and refreshing. Ninety degrees is an 
average sumirer day. 

In the matter of water there is not a county in the 
State that can begin to compare with Hamilton. Rivers 
form three of her boundary lines and the Alapaha river 
flows through it from north to south. Large creaks, 
many in number, tributary to these rivers, flow through 
the county, while branches and springs abound every- 
where. The artesian well at Jasper affords water which 
excite the admiration of all who taste it, while the sul- 
phur springs at White Springs is visited by thousands 
annually to obtain the benefit of its healing waters. The 
Wesson mineral spring^ near White Springs, also pos- 
BBSses rare medicinal properties and its waters are used 
by thou-sands. Pure freestone water can be procured 
almost anywhere, except in the phosphate region at a 
depth of eighteen to twenty-five feet. 

The northeastern portion of the county is what is gener- 
ally denominated as high flatwoods. The soil is produc- 
tive, T^roduces s^ood crops and is esnecially adai'ted to 
strawberries and sugar cane. The balance of fhe county 
fa high rolling pine lands intersper^-ed with hammocks. 
The soil is productive and of easy cultivation. 

The nriTioiT^al cro^ is sea islnn'l cotton of which 
many thousands of bales are pj'oduced every year, but 
large crops are also grown of corn, potatoes, sugar cane, 
pinders, pe^s. velvet bean'', etc. 

In the matter of fruits this county is esnecially adapted 
to the prndurt'on of n-'arhes. rlnrrs, near**, annles j'nd 
fl'XS, It is the natural home of the grnpe and any variety 
of v'r^'^ b"«! onlv to be nlnnt?d and let alonp to rtT»o''nce 
an abundant harvest. A few years ago the annual sales 



384 

<>f home-mada wines amounted to several thousands of 
dollars, but the local option law has crushed out this 
industry which at one time gave so much promise to our 
people. 

Besides agricultural pursuits the principal industries 
of the county are the manufacture of lumber, naval stores 
and the mining of phosphate'. The naval ftoves industry 
covers the county while large lumber mills, capable of 
turning out 1011,000 feet of meichantabla lumber a day. 
are to be found sat White Springs, Baker's Mill and 
Westlake. Smaller mills are to be found in every neigh- 
borhood. The western portion of the county is a vast bed 
of phosphate, large portions of which are being mined 
and shipperd by the Hamilton Phosphate Company. 

The bed of the Alapaha river, which is dry for a few 
miles from an immense sink where it runs underground, 
except in times of freshet, is said hj experts to be the 
finest glass-making sand in the world. The forests abound 
with fine timber and the hammocks are covered with hard 
woods, such as hickory, various kinds of oak, magnolia, 
beech, etc. 

The natural curiosities of the county are many and 
they never fail to excite the admiration of the beholder. 
Shaky Pond, just east from Jasper, with its flaating 
islands and sulphur springs; the Devil's den, a large 
cavern; Octahatchie lake with its subterranean pas- 
sages, and the many rivers and creeks which spring up 
from the earth, run a few miles and then disappear, all 
excite wonder and curiosity. 

Hamilton county is the sportsman's delight. Quail, 
ducks, doves and squirrels abound while fish are in 
every river and pond and stream. 

The cOunty has ample transportation facilities. The 
Atlantic Coast Line Railway runs through the county 
from north to south and the Georgia Southern and 
Florida Railway runs through from northeast to south- 
east, crossing each other at Jasper. These railways wit& 
their connections form continuous lines from Tampa tw 
Ne-"' York nnd from Miami to Chicap^o. 

White Springs, situated on the G. S. & P. railway anil 
on the Suwannee river, is eighteen miles from Jasper 
and eleven miles from Lake City. It is a flourishing town 
of more than 1200 population and is more widely known 



385 

than any town of its size in the Union. Thousands visit 
it annually. Many for the sake of deriving benefit from 
the healing waters of its magnificent sulphur spring, 
many others resort there for the social enjoyment whicn 
is there to be found, and many more because of the cheap 
living which can there be obtained. It has a fine school, 
good churches, Masonic lodge and is a place of rare 
natural beauty. 

Bellville is a small village on the Withlaooochee river 
in the western portion of the county and in the niidst of a 
paople who ate noted for culture, refinement and hospi- 
tality. 

Jennings is a prosperous town on the G. S. & F. Rail- 
way eleven miles northwest from' Jasper. It is sur- 
rounded by fine lauds and intelligent, prosperous farm- 
ers. 

Churches and school houses, the great factors of civili- 
zation and progress, are to be found all over the county. 
The Jasper Normal Institute at Jasper has, probably 
the largest per cent, of its giaduates lilling positions of 
trust and usefulness than any other similar institution 
in the State. The high school at White Springs would 
be an honor and jredit to any town, while in the country 
school houses are everywhere, filled with scholars and 
earnest, efficient teachers. 

The people of Hamilton county are industrious, order- 
ly and law-abiding. They invite emigrants to make their 
home with them. They care nothing about what a man's 
religion nor politics may be, if he is industrious and 
honest they want uim, they invite him to come and make 
his home with them. 

Following are the agricultural produclj for 1902: 

Value. 

Sea Island Cotton, bales, 4,434 $8l)<).740 

Corn, bushels, 192 255 192.255 

Oats, bushels, 12,J60 12.5R() 

Sweet Potatoes, bushels, 43,48G 20,835 

Field Peas, bushels. 4,340 4,34(1 

Peanuts, bushels, 67.112 67,112 

Syrup, barrels, 2,635 40,37a 

26 H P 



386 

Live stock on hand as follows: 

Horses, number, 1,368 8G,375 

Mules, number, 943 7l).U5l 

Stock cattle, number, 11,170 55.380 

Hogs, number, 16,333 16,333 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 32,076 8,44U 



HERNANDO COUNTY. 

Is bounded on the north by Citrus and Sumter coun- 
ties, on the east by Sumter, south by Pasco, and west by 
tile Gulf of Mexico. 

It hns an area of 475 square miles of land surfaro, «»r 
304,000 acres. Its population in 1890 was 2,47b, and in 
1900 it was 3,038, of which number 1,823 were whites and 
1,815 were negroes. 

At the end of the school term in 1901. it supported 24 
schools, of which 18 were for whites and C were for 
negroes. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

The topography of the entire county is of a broken hilly 
and beautifully rolling character, with an altitude in onie 
places of over 300 feet. This elevated and rolling land 
reaches within about two miles of the Gulf Coast, and 
•extends from the northern to the southern limits of the 
county. On the eastern boundary lies lUe v\ itiiiacuochee 
Eiver, running nearly north through an open pine for- 
est, draining large areas of land in Pasco, Polk and Sum- 
ter counties, all of which lies south and southeast of this 
county. 

This river, with the Chejsahowiskee and Weekiwachee 
rivers, are the only water courses which lie within or bor- 
dering on the county, the two latter rising out of the 
range of high hills about ten miles from rluMi- months, 
flow west into the (hilf. Thpre are a prat many small 
clear water lakes distributed through the open pine woods 
Jiorderlng the coast rcgfon and a less nnnrber in the pine 
iforest throngh whi« h the U'ithhK oorlue rivpr pa^'spg 
on the eastern boundary. The borders of these beauti- 



387 

ful little bodies of pnre rain water are not marshy, but 
clear, and often the pine timber is found growing to the 
very edge of the water. In many instances they are sur- 
rounded by high and precipitous hills, and in these the 
water is apt to be of gi"eat depth. Solar evaporation 
does not take place fast enough to dry them to any pe»- 
ceptible degree. 

They all abound in choice varieties of fish. On raanj 
of the high hills in this county, springs of pure and cool 
water break from the top or sides, forming small rivuleta 
which wind their way into some one of the many valleys;, 
and finally empty into what are called sinks. They are 
small openings in the earth, sometimes found large 
enough for a man to enter and follow, in some instances, 
to a great distance, finding large openings, large enough 
eometimes to be entitled to the name of caves. 

Hernando County lying about midway in the penii*- 
«ula on the Gulf Coast, has a stretch of twenty-five miles 
of coast line. She has a wealth of beauty and pleasure 
in her numerous clear lakes teeming with fish, bold, beau- 
tiful rivers, that spring from the bosom of the earth in 
their full vigor and strength, limpid springs that make 
one feel as if suspended in space while floating on their 
transparent waters, high hills covered with oak, hick- 
ory, red bay, magnolia, cedar, palmetto, ash and cherry 
trees, masses of grape and semi-tropical vines, or high 
rolling sandy land covered with pines, stretches of flat 
gaw palmetto lands or grass-covered prairies, sometimes 
but a few acres in extent, and again reaching off into the 
distance until the eye is weary of trying to measure its 
aize. All these can be seen in Hernando, and each has 
its special use or charm, and the immigrant can make his 
selection from the richest hammock to the poorest scrub 
in all the land; but even the scrub has something to com- 
mend it, for it furnishes a safe harbor for quo n titles of 
game, such as deer, turkeys and bear that misrht other- 
wise be destroyed. Fndprlying many portions of the 
county are large beds of limef'tone. marl or sa"d<»tone, 
the second unrivalled as a fertilizer and the third a 
most vnlnable building material, also rich and valuable 
pho«5nhntp beds. 

The lan'^s of the county are pine, hammock and 
swamp. The pine lands are sandy, not sharp silicious 



388 

sand, but fine and compact with a large percentage of 
lime and oi^^anic remains, making it extremely fertile and 
easy of cultivation. 

'llie li;iii]mocks are high and rolling, thoroughly dniined 
by the natural water shed. The soil is a rich, fine, vegeta- 
ble, mold mixed with Mnd anrl shell, or sand and clay 
intermixed, and resting on a substratum of clay, marl or 
limestone, and requiring no other preparation for culti- 
vation save clearing; but as the growth is heavy live oak, 
hickory and large timber, this is expensive. 

The swamp and overflowed lands are of later formation 
and are in most instames nothing but immense beds of 
mu( k f) cm one or two to twenty-five feet in depth. Those 
lands are heavily timbered, and it is here that the finest 
pL>uci] limber is found. 

The prospective settler, desirous of knowing how he is 
to live, will be interested in the following synopsis of 
field crops and fruits and their yield per acre. It must 
be borne in mind that the land on which these crops are 
grown is good pine or sandy hammock, also that by ju- 
dicious fertilization and cultivation the crops can be in- 
creased almost beyond ( once].'tion : 

The sea island cotton, the most valuable grown, pro- 
duces from 150 to 200 pounds to the acre. Rice is as easy 
of cultivation as any cereal; grows well on high Inn ?s 
and yields from twenty-five to seventy-five bushels to the 
acre. Corn varies from ten to fifty bushels to the acre, 
depending largely upon the cultivation and character of 
soil. Kve and oats are srood crops. Peanuts, pinders, 
goobers, ground-peas, all different names for the same 
nut, grow well and are remunerative, yielding from fifty 
to one hundred bushels per acre. 

The sweet potato is one of the most valuable crops the 
new-comer can plant, simply because he can put it in a 
j-ow or two at a time as the season and his engagements 
Buit, almost the year around, thus securing a auccesa'on 
of crops and insuring an abundance of wholesome food. 
Irish potatoes are a good and profitable crop. Arrow- 
root, cassava and coontie all grow well, and with proy)er 
mltivation are profitable crops. Florida arrow-root !a 
equal in quality and price to the best Rermnda. Tasava 
Is rich in starch, being far superior to the Tr'sh potato. 
The coontie grows wild and is the famous Indian bread- 



389 

root. Among the fibre plants sisal hemp, jute and ma- 
nilla have been tested and proven successful. Indigo ia 
indigenous to Florida, the pine forests being frequently 
covered with it for miles. The castor bean grows from 
year to year and attains the size of a tree. No attempt 
has yet been made to utilize the beans, though the at- 
tempt would undoubtedly prove profitable. In fruits 
there are lemons, limes, citrons, oranges, peaches, plums, 
Japan plums, a number of vai-ieties of grapes, pineapples, 
figs, guavas, pomegranates, dates, bananas, persimmons, 
both the wild and Japanese, LeConte pears and others. 

Pecan and hickory nuts thrive; the latter are abundant 
in the hammocks. Both tea and coffee grow well, but 
their success from a money point of view, is yet to be 
proven. Strawberries are unsurpassed in size, color, 
flavor and perfume. Whortleberries, blackberries and 
dewberries grow wild in the utmost profusion. 

TIMBER. 

Of timber TTer^ando has perhaps a greater var'ety and 
of greater value than any other county. Of the hammock 
timber, s'lch as oak, hickorv. m«iT)le, bay, magnolia, ash, 
sweet gum, magnificent timber for wagons, furniture, 
oar buil-iing and fiui<^hing, anvthing, in *act, requiring 
hard or close grained wood, Hernando ha^ fully 101),- 
000.000 feet. A considerable quantity has already been 
shipped to order. 

Millions of cub'c feet of red cedar have been shi*pp4^d 
from the county, and there are yet large quantities left 
of this valuable wood. The yellow pine is as fine as can 
be found in the world, and the supply runs up ?nt j the 
many millions of feet. There are also immense quanti- 
ties of magnificent cypress timber all aloT;g the water 
courses and Gulf easy of access and transjiDrtntion. 
There are many other valuable woods that space nill not 
permit the enumeration of; suffice it to sn_v that for 
furniture, wagon timber, tubs, buckets, handles, ^ir tim- 
ber, building or finishing timber, Hernando has a niJ'j^nifl- 
cent supply ready and waiting for enterprising hands tj 
turn into gold. 



S90 

HEALTH. 

It is not only the delightful Gulf winds we have to in- 
hale and purify the atmosphere which protect us from 
any great degree of malarial disease, but the natural 
drainage of the hills and valleys above referred to, is so 
thorough and never-failing that but little malaria is gen- 
erated. This is especially the case near the center of I he 
county, where there is not sufficient stagnant water to 
even generate that very annoying insect fhe mosrpiito, 
for, in Brooksville and vicinity, for several miles around, 
the residents are not required to provide my prote<-tion 
against them but can enjoy the night's repose undis- 
turbed, in the cool and balmy atmosphere, rising ir. the 
earl3' morning, refreshed and strengthened for the day's 
work. It is quite an item in maintaining good health in 
this or any other climate, to sleep soundlv in jsn atmos- 
phere unrestricted by closed room or netting. 

The atmosphere is almost constantly in motion and ihe 
prevailing winds being from the west and southwest we 
liave the full benefit of the salt air of the Gulf modTied 
to small degree by its passage over the open pine land 
l^'ing along our Gulf coast and extending twelve to six- 
teen miles in the interior. These winds would so modify 
an atmosphere laden with malaria as to prevent an^ 
great degree of poisoning, but when a small amount only 
is generated, such a constant intermixture of (^ulf atmos- 
phere with that of the land, that no malarial dis- 
ease .of severe type could prevail. This is the case in 
Hernando County. Such fatal diseases as typhoid, 
dir>theria, small-pox, yellow fever, or the dread infantile 
ailments of higher latitudes, are unknown here. 

Much could be said concerning the benefits of our cli- 
mate to invalids, and esoecially those troubled with pul- 
monary and rheumatic diseases, but we have not the space 
to devote to the subiect. 

BROOKSVILLE. 

The county site of Hernando, and its most important 
point, is an incornorated town of ^^\ inhabitants, is the 
most beautifully located town in Florida, and is as 
healthy and pleasant as it is beautiful. Built on the top 



391 

of a hill 328 feet above the level of the Gulf sixteen miles 
away, it is one of the highest points in the State and is 
in a section that has never had a case of epidemic dis- 
ease of any kind. 

The town overlooks the country for miles in every di- 
rection, enabling the visitor to see at a glance that mother 
earth is here richly endowed with all that helps to make 
life as nearly a constant pleasure as it is possible to be. 
I'ei-fectly drained, with broad hard streets regularly laid 
out, pure water and constant breezes, Brooksville is a 
delightful dwelling place at all seasons of the year; in- 
sects are notably absent, and even in midsummer, mo»- 
quitoes, the terror of many places, are almost entirely un- 
known. 

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. 

The people of Brooksville and of all this section are 
prosperous, healthy, law-abidirg, respectable and intelli- 
gent and wide-awake (o the advantages of education, a» 
is shown by the number of schools maintained in the town 
and county. 

The principal agricultural products for 1902 is as fol- 
lows : 

Value. 

Corn, bushels, 35,300 |21,12G 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 28,140 14,055 

Syrup, barrels, 854 7,90» 

Field peas, bushels, 2,520 2,510 

Peanuts, bushels, 1,825 2,815 

Velvet beans, bushels, 5,560 5,470 

Cabbage, crates, 1,045 1,475 

Tomatoes, crates, 930 885 

Watermelons, car loads, 12 1,080 

Oranges, boxes, 347 740 

Strawberries, quarts, 10,400 1,940 

Peaches, bushels, 969 1,235 

Live stbck on hand as follows: 

Horses, number, 443 26,080 

Mules, number, 221 22.070 

Stock cattle, number, 4,400 27,060 

Hogs, number, 3,220 6,335 



3ii2 
I. ... 

HILLSBOROUGH COINTY. 

Is bounded on the north by Pasco, on the east by Polk, 
on the south by Manatee county and Tampa Bay, and 
on the west by Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. 

It has an area of 13119 square miles of land surface, or 
837.760 acres. Its population in 1890 was 14,941, and in 
1900 it was 36,013, of which number 27,528 were whitBs 
and 8,485 were negroes. At the end of the school term 
of 1901, it was maintaining 95 schools, of wbich 81 were 
for whites, and 14 were for negroes. 

Hillsborough County is situated about midway of the 
Gulf Coast of the peninsula of Florida. In shape it is 
rectangle, forty-eight miles by thirty-six in dimension, 
and but for the encroachment of the Gulf on the south 
west corner would embrace forty-eight townships. Its 
land ar?a is still further rednced by Tampa bay and its 
branches, Old Tamoa and Hillshorouc-h bays, so that 
the ftctnal amount of la^id sur^Tf^e i« thirty-six town^'hins, 
or about 1309 souare r-'los — 837,760 aorps of available 
land. The gurfnce is diversified, ranging from high, 
rolling hills to fat mnrshes. though of the latter the 
ar?a is very small. Its sei^hore po'^'spssps manv features 
of the grentest benutv. and a'mo«it its full length is 
fringed and protprted bv is'nnds a^^d key«? which make a 
multitu()e of rafe harbors and a svstem of "island" nav- 
igation, to which the bays mentioned and a score of 
streams navijrab^e by small boats and hundreds of miles 
of water rnutcs for business or pleasure. 

The land varies in its soil from rich hammock and bay- 
heads that rival in fertility the famous? Mississippi bot- 
tom to pine lands of ordinary quality. Soil and climate 
are adapted to the cultivation of all staple fruit and veg- 
etable crops to be found anywhere in the State. A very 
attractive feature is hundreds of beautiful, dear, sweet 
fresh-water lakes of all depths and sizes, which not only 
beautify the scenery ,but modify and tpm|>er th? climate 
from the extremes of both heat and cold. This is shown 
by the weather bureau records, which prove that the win- 
ter ig warmer and the summer cooler than other sections 
of latitude. The extremest summer heat ever recorded 
is 95 degrees, which is ten degrees less than the record 
of the northern section of the State, and the winter tem- 



393 

perat'Ure is < orrcspondiugiy milder. The nights jire oool 
in the hottest summer, and the heat is dissipated in the 
hours of isunshiue by constantly blowing land and sea 
breezes. 

The history of Hillsborough county begins with the 
landing on tha shore of Tampa Bay in 1521) of Pamfilo de 
Narvaez, the commander of a Spanish expedition of explo- 
ration. The next event of recorfi is the arrival of the 
larger and more important invasion of Hernando DeSoto. 
Both these leaders and their forces came to grief. The tirst 
permanent settlement of English-speaking people wiihin 
the limits of Hillsboroueh county occurred when Port 
Brooke, at the head of Hillsborough bay. was established 
by the U. S. Government in 1825, four years after the 
formal taking possession of the territory. The Seminole 
war began in 1835, and the ill-fated expedition of Major 
Dade left Fort Brooks in December of that .year, being 
exterminated on the 28th of the month at a epoz whfcn 
is now in Sumter county. After the termination of the 
war the chief portion of tlie tribe was embarked nt Von 
Brooke for transfer to the Indian Territory, May 14, 
1858. 

Settlement in the counties was somewhat stra<rgling 
rntil the 50s. from which time it has been steadily in- 
creasing, until now the population is second to only one 
county in Floridn. Tampa, the second city In the State 
in 7Mmiilation and importance, is the county scat. It is 
beautifully situated at the head of Hillsborough bay, in- 
cluding tile old site of Fort Brooke, and its natral ad- 
vantages uw now supplemented by the entrance of six 
railroad lines and the construction of a deep water chan- 
nel from its numerous docks to the Gulf. It is the seat 
of a large and rj5])idly growing commerce. 

The first railroad entered the county in 1884, and it 
was speedily followed by the transfer from Havana and 
Key West of the immense cigar manufacturing interests 
which are nov/ such a prominent feature of the city of 
Tampa. The city is the seat of federal revenue collec- 
tions to the amount of more than a million and a half 
dollars a year, and the contract Is awarded for the erec- 
tion of a government building to cost when completed 
f365,000. It also possesses an |80.0fl0 court house and 
$30,000 worth of .school building. It is the location of the 



394 

most palatial and costly tourist hotel in the world — the 
renowned Tampa Bay. 

The city has paved streets, complete sewerage, electrkj 
railways and lights, water and gas systems, five tire sta- 
tions, and in short every feature of a metropolitan city. 
The population of Tampa, including several flourishing 
suburbs, so cloisely connected with it as to comprise a 
single solid commercial community, will exceed 25,UUD. 
It has three banks with annual transactions of |17,500,- 
000. It has two telephone system, with more than 1200 
subscribers, and long-distance connection with every 
town and village within a hundred miles. It has three ex- 
celent daily newspapers. Forty thousand people from 
other localities visit it annually for business or pleasure. 
It is the chief gateway of travel and commerce between 
the United States and Cuba. 

POPULATION. 

The inhabitants of Hillsborough county in 19M 
numbered, according to the national census, 3U,013, of 
whom 27,528 were white and 11,U1]6 colored. A conserva- 
tive estimate of the increase for the past two years is ten 
per cent for the whites and five per cent for the blacks, 
making them number respectively 30,279 and 12,595, or 
a total of 42,874. 

As carefully as may be estimated upon a similar basis, 
the population of the principal towns in the county is atf 
follows: 

Tampa 17,423 

West Tampa 2,595 

St. Petersburg 1J30 

Fort Brooke 1,248 

Port Tampa City 1,513 

Plant City 805 

Clearwater 376 

STOCK RAISING. 

This is an important and profitable industry. There 
are returned for assessment iu the county 23,797 head of 
cattle, 4,830 hogs and 1,755 sheep. There are 2,394 horses 
and mul»8. 



395 

The most important development of recent years in 
Btock raising: is the discovery and application of the vel- 
vet bean. This is produced at a very small cost, growing 
prolifically, and all kinds of stock are very fond of it. It 
has been the uniform experience of all who have em- 
ployed it as a food that three months' finishing and fat- 
tening upon it will fully double the market price of a beef 
taken from the best range. The bean is being more 
largely cultivated every j'ear, and handsome profits at- 
tend its use. It is believed that if it shall be employed to 
promote the growth of young cattle as well as finishing 
off the grown stock it will result in practically doubling 
the size and weight of our native breeds when they reaeli 
the age of marketing. 

PRICES OF LANDS. 

These vary according to character and location. Wild 
pine lands in large bodies range from one to five dollars 
per acre, choice hammock lands from ten to one hundred 
dollars, and the best selections near the county sent are 
held at even higher figures. Small tracts convenient to 
railroad stations may be had at five to fifteen dollars au 
acre, and, in fact, the range of choice and price is almost 
unlimited. There is room for ten thousand families to 
make a good living and more in farming and fruit grow- 
ing in Hillsborough county. 

The construction of a comfortable home in this section 
is a simple and easy matter. All the materials nect^ssary 
for buildings, fences, etc., except the hardware, are furn- 
ished by the place itself and are produced in clearing It 
up. Implements needed are few and cheap, and the 
weather permits work in garden, grove and field the year 
round. No spot in the world affords so great inducement* 
to the poor but energetic man. 

As will be noted in the naragraoh on population, three 
fourths of the people of the county live in the city and 
towns. This produces a condition very favorable to the 
farming interest. The urban residents afford a market 
for farm, fruit and garden produce which is never glutted 
with supplies, and prices are therefore always good. 
This is especially true of milk, butter and poultry, for 
which distant sources of supply are largely called upon 
the year round. 



396 
PRINCIPAL CROPS. 

The leading crops raised in this county are corn, cane, 
potatoes, cassava, rice, velvet beans, millet ,and practical- 
ly all the staples produced in the state. As a rule, how* 
ever, farming is subsidiary to gardening and fruit rais- 
ing. 

Gardening is successfully and profitably conducted, 
and the list of products is limited only by the varieties 
known to the country at large. There is an unlimited 
market in the principal cities of the country for the pro- 
ducts of the winter gardens of South Florida, and na 
county contributes more largely than Hillsborough to the 
immense exports of this section to the North. Hundreds 
of people are engaged in the calling, and they find it with- 
out exception profitable when well managed. 

Several hundred acres of selected land are devoted to 
the cultivation of strawberries and great profits are de- 
rived from them. The most delicious berries in the world 
are raised here, and the shipments begin by Christmas 
and couiiiiue uulil June. Watermelons and cantaloupes 
are also favorites with producers, and invariably bring 
good returns. The work is easy in comparison with the 
toil of farming in other sections, and it may be engaged 
in by persons of very small capital — or what would else- 
where be practically no capital at all. Many a single 
acre of celery, egg plant, cucumbers, cauliflower, or some 
other specially preferred vegetable, yields as much money 
to the grower in this county as does a forty-acre farm iu 
the flourishing Northwest. 

FRUITS. 

Oranges annd j)ineapples are the principal fruits pro- 
duced for export in Hillsborough county. The latter is 
the newer industry and has become profitable nnd suc- 
cess-ful. Mail}' people think because the best cultivation 
of this fruit requires shedding that it is a complicatett 
and expensive business. Such is not the case, as the 
planting, fertilizing, cultivation and protection involve 
only the simplest and cheapest labor. 

There are now eighty -six acres of sheddcd jiines in the 
county, some of which are in the fourth year of eultiva- 



397 

tion. The average number of plants to the acre is 10,000, 
and the average of fruiting is twice in three years. The 
shipments from the county last year were about 23,0()JJ 
crates. The estimates on the 11)1)2 crop, being shipped 
chiefly in August, is 21,500 crates. The crop this year 
has so far brought from |2 to §i2.50 net per crate. No 
person who has ever embarked in the cultivation of the 
pineapple has abandoned it or reduced the area. On the 
contrary, all are enlarging their plantings, finding the 
culture easy and the returns profitable. Five years of 
experience have shown the planters which are tlie supe- 
rior varieties and disclosed to them the best and chaap- 
est methods, and the pineapple has achieved a fixed and 
permanent place in the list of staple fruit crops of Hills- 
Ijorough county. 

The orange is the leading fruit product of the county, 
and it is a conservative figure to set down the acreage of 
bearing trees in good shape at 2,750, with more than a 
thousand acres of young trees not yet in bearing. 
The yi?Id in 1901 was 250,000 crates, bringing an average 
price of |1.25 per crate. The crop this year will be con- 
siderably reduced by dry weather and its attendant in- 
sect troubles. The market price will be much higher and 
the money returns equally large. Events of the past fe>v 
years have made this county the center of the orange belt 
and its culture was never more promising and profitable. 
The peculial advantage of embarking in the cultivation 
of this kind of fruits is that the ground will support the 
farmer and his family while he is waiting for his trees to 
come into bearing. 

Grape fruit is also a prominent feature of citrus cul- 
ture, the price being well maintained and the yield large. 
Many growers are greatly enlarging their groves and the 
yield will soon be at least doubled. 

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 

In this respect Hillsborough county is happily situated. 
Two main lines of trunk railway — the Atlantic Coast 
LiLe and the Seaboard Air Line — penetrate it, and each 
has various branches. The Coast Line also enters the 
county near the northwest corner and runs to St. Petpra- 
burg, a distance of about thirty milee, along wbich line 



398 

are several of the liveliest and most prosperous towns in 
the county. The Tampa and Thonotosassa road runs be- 
tween the city and lake of those names. The Seaboard 
terminates at Tampa, and has a branch crossing the eas- 
tern section of the county. The Coast Line terminates 
at Port Tampa. There are altogether 145 miles of traffic 
line railroad in the county, on which there are 38 reg- 
ular stations — facilities which can perhaps hardly be ri- 
valled, and certainly not exceeded. 

In the matter of water transportation there is a tri- 
weekly line of steamers to Havana, two steamer lines to 
Mobile, and a semi-monthly line to New York. There are 
regular schoonei* lines to New York and New Orleans and 
a do/.eu large schooners in the lumber and fruit trade bb- 
tween Tampa and the West Indies and Central America. 

Two lines of local steamers run daily between Tampa, 
St. Petersburg and all points on the Manatee river, a tri- 
weekly line to Sarasota bay, a triweekly line to the Ala- 
fia river, and at least fifty small auxiliary and sailing 
vessels are engaged in local and costing trade, extending 
from Cedar Key to Key West. 

The county has twenty-eight miles of electric railway, 
of which nine miles are in the city of Tampa and the re- 
mainder suburban, penetrating country districts. 

There are sixteen miles of paved road in the county, 
nine miles under contract and several miles under con- 
struction by convict labor. Pour hundred thousand dol- 
lars bonds have been voted by the people and issued by 
the commissioners for the purpose of building 150 miles, 
or thereabouts, of firstclass paved roadway to cover the 
entire county systematically, and this project will be 
completed in about three years. Combined with rail and 
water facilities, this will give Hillsborough county in« 
comrarably the best and most complete means of trans- 
portation of any county in the State, and leave it per- 
haps without an equal in the South. 

MANUFACTURING. 

The making of cigars is the chief manufactuHng in- 
dustry of Hillsborough county, of which branch the fol- 
lowing carefully compiled figures will give an adequate 
idea : 



399 

Number of factories, 135 

People employed, G,00(). 

Weekly payroll, $75,(>0(). 

Output, 137 million cigars annually. 

Cost of material employed, $2,G50,000. 

Money received for product, |9,615,0fl0. 

About one-seventh of the total population is engaged in 
the business directly as wage earners, and the amount re- 
ceived from it would provide $225 annually fjr each man, 
woman and child in the county. 

Other lines of manufacturing show up quite creditably. 
Foremost is the Warnell & Veneer Co., located at Plant 
City, employing over 200 persons and putting out a pro- 
duct of about a half million per year. There are besides 
3 sa?h, door and blind factories. 5 planing mills, 25 saw- 
mills, 2 cigar box factories, I cedar mill, 4 carriage and 
wagon factories, 1 cooperage, 1 distillery, 2 paint works, 
1 grist mill, 2 rice mills, G bottling works, 6 ice factories, 
1 prii.ting press factory, 2 iron and bra^s foundries. 4 
machine shors, 1 macaroni factory, 2 distilled waiter 
plants, 1 palmetto fiber factory, 2 shipbuilding yards, 2 
brick and tile works, 2 asphalt works, 1 oyster cannery, 
1 broom factory. 2 mattress factories, 1 cornice and sheet 
metal works, and numerous other little enterprises of va- 
rious kinds of hardly sufficient importance to enumer- 
ate. All these establishments are in profitable and regu- 
lar operation except the oyster cannery, which has beea 
closed by the recent death of its owner. There are room, 
facilities, materials and demand for a great enlargement 
of existing establishments as well as an increase in th^ir 
number, and there are other lines offering openings an<l 
inducements to capital and enterprise. 

THE WEATHER. 

The temperature and other climatic conditions of this 
•e<tion are unsurpassed for salubrity and pleasantnesH. 
The winter is marked by abundant sunshine and warm.h, 
the summer by rainfall and coolness. 

The average mean temperature of .Tanunry for the pai^t 
twelve year«. as shown bv the govern mrnt records, is .r>r» 
degrees. This is the coldest month of the year. The 



400 

average means for the months of July and August for the 
asme period are 81 degrees. The highest temperature on 
record is 95 degrees. 

The average rainfall for the past twelve years has been 
55.05 inches. Of this an average of more than 33 inches 
has fallen during the months of June, July, August and 
September, vv^hich are commonly known as "the rainy sea- 
son." The remaining twenty inches is usually distributed 
equally over the other eight months of the year. This 
condition makes a winter climate impossible to excel — 
dry, sunshiny and 3«et cool. For invalids it is the per- 
fection of kindliness and gentleness. The average num- 
ber of absolutely clear days per month is in excess of 
tan, of cloudy days less than seven, which is a sunshine 
record unet|ualled except on desert lands. 

The highest wind velocity ever recorded is 48 miles an 
hour, and only three times has the v>'ind reached a veloci- 
ty of 40 miles. Twenty-four hurricanes have crossed 
some portion of Florida within the past twenty-five 
years, but as shown by the tables of the weather bursa a 
Tampa has been wholly exempt from such visitations. 
It has been equally free from phenomenal or damaging 
rainfalls. With the country for a hundred miles sur- 
rounding, it occupies a position with regard to the trade 
winds which protects it from violent disturbances of an/ 
<haracter. 

SrORT. 

To those who seek recreation on land or water Hills- 
borough county offers unequalled attractions. Deer are 
to be found in the recesses of cypress brakes, while tup- 
keys are more numerous, every season yielding many fins 
specimens to enterprising and lucky sportsmen. The 
woods and fields swarm with quail, squirrels are plenti- 
ful, snipe freely visit the feeding grounds every winter, 
and ail varieties of land, shore and water birds are 
abundant. The game laws are strictly enforced, and the 
open season always finds game in large quantity and 
easy of access. 

The fishing afforded by the waters of the county is un- 
equalled anywhere. The fresh streams and hundreds of 
limpid lakes abound in black bass, bream and perch, and 



401 

recorded catches are phenomenal. The salt waters teem 
with every kind of fish known to this latitude, with the 
addition of oysters, crabs and clams. The character of 
the calm and i>eaceful sheets of inland waters, the fre- 
quent occurrence of shell bank«i, bars and channels give 
every facility for knowipg whore the fiuuny dimizens are 
to be most surely found, and consequently the sport never 
fails to reward the seeker who pursues it. 

Among the varieties may be mentioned the lordly tar- 
pon, i-ed and black grouper, Spanish mackerel, speckled 
trout, pompano, red and mangrove snappers, slieepshead, 
red bass, croakeriS, drum and many others — all of which 
respond readily to the lures of the angler. The shores, 
islands and keys afford innumerable perfect camping 
places to which sportsmen may resort. The weather per- 
mits these sports, on both land and water, to be pursued 
every day in the year, and thousands of people testify to 
the perfectly satisfying character of enjoyment by field 
QM^ flood. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The total number of public schools in the county is 103, 
•of which three are high schools and fifteen are graded 
with two or more teachers. The number of white schools 
is 87, of colored 16. The number of teachers is 165, of 
whom 50 ai*e males and 115 females. White, 140 ; colored, 
25. The amount of school tax levied is five mills in the 
county at large but in a number of special districts an 
additional tax of three mills is laid. The average dura- 
tion of terms of school in country districts Is five months, 
in the incorporated towns and villages it is eight months. 
The number of pupils in attendance upon the schools of 
the county during the past year was 6,345. The aggre- 
gate salaries paid to teachers for the year was |42,649.75. 
The total of school property belonging to the county is 
$36,390, while that occupied belonging to individuals Is 
118,100. 

A State Normal and Industrial School is located at 
fit. Petersburg, to which is attached a manual training 
department. This and the several high schools attain to 
a most excellent academic rank. There, are two first-class 

26 HP 



402 

business colleges and a number of private and parochial 
institutions, the latter including probablj 1000 pupils. 
Four of these schools are of the average high school grade 
in their upper departments. 

The Methodist Conference College, lately located at 
Leesburg, has been moved to Sutherland, in this countj>y 
and will open in September with an able faculty and a 
large attendance. Education is highly prized by the peo- 
ple of the county, and there is a strong tone in public 
«piiit on the subject. There are now twenty special sub- 
districts in the county, and jietitions to create new ones 
are received at every meeting of the board of education. 
During the past two years there has been an increase of 
7 schools and 23 teachers, with corresponding addition to 
the enrollment and attendance of pupils. Summer nor- 
mal schools for teachers are held in the county annually^ 
which are attended by many teacheis from other coun- 
ties, and in which the best attainable talent is employed 
a,«i instructors. 

CHURCHES. 

Methodist — 29 churches, including white aud colored 
and all divisions of the denomination, with 2,460 commu- 
nicants. 

Baptists — 23 churches, white and colored, with 2,185 
members. 

Catholics — 6 churches, 4 missions, 3 stations, 1,750 
actual members, and about 7,000 persons connecte«J in 
the parishes in addition to the membership. 

Episcopal — 12 churches, white and colored, with 529^ 
communicants and 1,010 baptized. 

Congr-egational — 3 churches, with 400 membere. 

Christian — 3 churches, with 200 members. 

Presbyterian-^10 churches, with 600 memberg. 

Advent — 3 churches, with 175 members. 

Jewish — 1 synaogue, with 96 members, • ' 

BOARD OF TRADE. 

There is an active board of trade in Tampa, the secre- 
tary of which will be glad to reply to all qyeries fop in- 
formation not embraced in the foregoing pages. Letters 



403 

addressed to "Secretary, Board of Trade, Tampa, Fla./' 
will i-eceive prompt and courteous attention. 

The principal agricultural jtroducts for 1902, were as 
follows: 

Value. 

Corn, bushels, 34.4.51 .f 18,314 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 52,08.5 25,212 

Syrup, barrels, 1,273 14,525 

Rice, bushels, 4,158 5,510 

Hay, tons, 473 7,924 

Velvet bean, bushels, 0,440 5,960 

Irish potatoes, bushels, G,17M 10,292 

Tomatoes, crates, 5,720 7,874 

Watermelons, car loads, 147 12,491 

Oranges, crates. 288.990 135,930 

Grape fruit, crates. 0.028 31,499 

Strawberries, quarts. 1.213,084 72,209 

Peaches, bushels, 2,202 3,521 

Live stock on hand for 1902: 

Horses, numlK^r. 2,181 133,599 

Mule«, number, 280 38,450 

Stock cattle, number, 21,790 179,676 

Hog^, number. 12,387 15,477 

Poultrv. all kinds, number, 58,164 24,508 



HOLMES COUNTY, 

This county is bounded on the north in part by the 
State of Alabama, and Jackson County, Florida, on the 
east by Jackson and Calhoun counties, on the isouth by 
Walton and Washington counties, and on the west by 
W^alton County. 

Its area is 435 gquai-e miles of land surface or 278,400 
acres. 

In 1890 its population was 4,336, and in 1900 it was 
7,762, of which number 6,481 were whites and 1,281 were 
negroes. 

At the end of the school term in 1901 it was maintain- 
ing 45 schools, of which 43 were for whites and 2 were 
for negroes. 



404 

The country is generally undulating, though high, and 
in some places quite elevated. The lands are generally 
sandy, with clay subsoil, often mixed with quartz gravel 
to a considerable extent; the majority of the lands can 
be classed as high grade pine lands; there are also con- 
siderable areas of fine hammock lands. 

The Choctahatchee river flows entirely across the coun- 
ty from north to soutli, and Holmes Creek, really a river, 
flows in a southwesterly direction across the eastern half 
of the county, emptying into the Choctahatchee about the 
center of the western edge of Washin^'iiton County. The 
two streams above named form what is known as 
"Holmes Valley,'' extending entirely across Holmes Coun- 
ty and well down into Washington County. This area 
represents about one-half of Holmes County, and contains 
most of the desirable lands in the county, and compris- 
ing some of the finest type of farm, timber and grazing 
lands foujid in any section of the State. This county is 
perhaps as well watered as any in the State, with large 
numbers of never failing streams, and is not surpassed by 
any locality for live stock growing of all kinds. The 
Louisville and Nashville Railroad traverses the county 
almost its entire length, in a southwesterly direction, 
giving through quick transportation to Pengacola and be- 
yond. A steamboat line plys the river as far up as Ge- 
neva, Alabama, thence back south and west to Pensacola; 
thus the people of those sections of the county, who pre% 
fer steamboat communication to rail have their choice. 
Transportation facilities are therefore good. The princi- 
pal industries are the manufacture of naval stores from 
the magnifi<ent i)ine forests, and cutting and sawing the 
timber into commercial form for the home or export 
trade. 

Westville, the county seat, situated on the L. & N. R. 
R., in the southwestern portion of the county, is a thriv- 
ing town, as are also the towns of Bonifay and Caryville. 

The agricultural products for 1902 were as follows : 

Value. 

Upland cotton, bales, 1,187 |41,905 

Corn, bushels, 54,018 53,988 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 21,347 10,887 

Syrup, barrels. 846 10,125 

Peanuts, bushels, 22,171 16.558 

Peaehes, bushels, 3,750 9,600 



405 

And the following live stock on hand : 

Horses, number, 391 16,594 

Mules, number, 251 16,132 

Stock cattle, 3,981 19,617 

Sheep, number, 6,956 9,226 

Hogs, number, 4,258 < 4,750 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 17,553 4,456 

Other farm products, as 

Wool, pounds, 13,996 2,583 

Honey, pounds, 3.750 413 



JACKSON COUNTY. 

Jackson County is bounded on the north by the States 
of Alabama and Georgia, on the east by the State of 
Georgia, and Gadsden County, Florida, on the south by 
Calhoun County, and on the west by Holmes and Wash- 
ington counties. 

It has an area of 963 square miles of land surface or 
616,320 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 17,.544, and in 1900 it was 
23,377, of which number 11,087 were white and 12,290 
were negroes. 

At the end of the school term of 1901 this county was 
maintaining 93 schools, of which number 57 were for 
whites and 36 were for negroes. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

Adjoining the rivers on the eastern boundary of the 
county there is an extremely rich strip of land extending 
from one end of the county to the other. This strip of 
land is from one-half to two miles wide, and is the richest 
land in the State; the only objection is that it is subject 
to overflow. After leaving the river bottom there is a 
series of high hills, and then comes high rolling pine 
lands, intersjtersed with oak and hickory. Approaching 
the Chij»ol;i. river and its tribntaries is to be found large 
bodies of hammock land, which is very level and exceed- 
ingly fertile. These hammocks are to be fonnd in the 
middle and northern parts of the county ; the western and 



40G 

southern parts of the county are high pine land, with 
occasional oak and hickory lands. The Ch\pola river 
runs through the county and nearly divides the county 
in the center. On either side are to be found rich lauds 
covered with heavy growths of oak, bay, beech, poplar, 
walnut, magnolia, hickory, maple and other trees. The 
land is high and rolling. The land in the northwestern 
part of the county is of the same kind. The entire county 
is well watered ; on the eastern i)art by the Chattahoochee 
and Apalachicola rivers, and numerous springs and 
creeks, tributaries to these rivers ; the middle of the coun- 
ty by the Chipola river and numerous creeks that flow 
into this river from both the eastern and western sides; 
the western part of the county by Holmes Creek and the 
streams that flow into it and into the Choctawhatchie 
River. The county is also interspersed with fresh water 
ponds. 

SOIL. 

The numerous water courses which intersect Jackson 
County give it a greater variety of soil than almost any 
county in the State, and difi/rent portions of the county 
difl'er as widely in the character of the soil as if ihej were 
thousands of miles apart. The general character of the 
lands are fine high pine, rolling hills, fertile valleys, 
dense hammock, rich red clay, sandy loam and table 
lands. The lands along the Chattahoochee River in the 
eastern portion of the county are rich hammock, as are 
also those on each side of the Chipola River, which runs 
through the middle of the county from north to south. 
In the western portion of the county the lands are light 
and loamy, but capable of ])roducing fine ' crops. In the 
extreme southwestern part of the county is a large body 
of heavily timbered pine lands, while tke northwest ia 
stiff clay land, being very fertile and productive. The 
lands throughout the entire county are unusually pro- 
ductive for Florida lands, and there are still large bodies 
of laud in the county on which the virgin forest is as yet 
untouched by the woodman's axe. 

Lands can be ])ouglit in this county at from $1 to |25 
per acre, according to location. 



407 

The productions are as varied as the soil. Cotton, 
com, oats, rice and sugar cane ai*e at present the staples, 
but other kinds of grain do well, such as barley, wheat 
and rye. Nearly all kinds of vegetables can be raised 
successfully, and no county in the State offers better fa- 
cilities for the profitable cultivation of cabbages, peas, 
beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons and fruit 

The fniits produced in Jackson County a#e in great 
variety and excellent quality. Peaches of all kinds do 
well upon the ridges, and seedlings succeed in producing 
good crops all over the county. Apples and plums do 
well; grapes of various kinds produce abundantly, but 
those most cultivated and best adapted to the soil and 
climate are the Scuppernong and the White Niagara, 
Strawberries of all kinds are produced in abundance. 
The LeConte pear is a favorite fruit and bears in great 
profusion. A leading citizen of Marianna gathered over 
tw^enty bushels from one tree the past season. The apri- 
cot, quince and persimmon all thrive. Figs and pome- 
granates flourish, and it is the home of the luscious wa- 
termelon. 

The pine lands of the country afford splendid ranges 
for cattle, sheep and goats, and many of the citizens are 
engaged in raising them and find it exceedingly remuner- 
ative. The forests of pine as well as the thick hammocks 
afford good ranges for hogs, which live principally upon 
the mast. The old fields that have been cleared of timber 
many years ago furnish fine ])asturage for horses, mules 
and asses, as well as for sheep and cattle, and those who 
paid attention to the subject have found the raising of 
live stock very profitable. 

The climate is unequalled — the winters are nevep' 
severe, and the nearness to the gulf renders the summers 
mild and pleasant, and those who are suffering from pul- 
monaiw diseases can find no healthier place in the South 
in which to settle. The atmosphere is dry and pure, and 
while the county is close enough to the oiilf of Mexico to 
render the winters mild and the summers cool, it is at 
such a distance as to prevent the moist, foggy weather 
which some object to in other portions of the Slate, par- 
ticularly immediately on the coast. The water is both 
free and limestone; cool and pure springs abound; wells 
and cisterns are easilv made. 



4 OS 

This ooui\ty jilunuuls in lu)ld. swift ortvks ;iud small 
Ktn^nns. which ot¥,or splondid ituhioontonts for iho oa]>i- 
talist to iiivost in n\ills and fa»Morios. i^hipola Kivor, 
l\lv's Mill Tnvk. Uhio Sjninji or Ktibinson's Sprinj^ 
i^ns^k, lUWnu^s v>iH»k. l>ry Tnvk. and many others wonld 
Ih^ jlt>od pla«H's to bviihl n\ills and faotorit^s ninm. Tho 
fon^sts abound in ]>im\ oak. walnut, bay, majjnolia. gum, 
poplar, iixiipli^ivdar juul ottior wihhIs, and otVor oxtra in* 
diU'inn(M\ts to tho hnnbormon. 

Tho l\M\sa.>ola and Aflantic Kailn>ad (1.. Ji K. K. K.V 
]>ass(^s thnmiih iho «oiU«T of iho ctmnty, and tho n\arkot 
jrardonor, tho fartiior and tho lnmb<MMnan will havo ani]>lo 
faoilitios fi>r tho rapid transportation of thoir manufac- 
tur»^s i>r pr\Hluoo, 

Tho fort^sts alH>\ind in sr.utto of »nory kinil, s\uh as Ivar, 
door, tnrkoys, duoks. sonintOs. f«)\«^s. rai'»'oons and sn^all 
j?vmo of o\ory kind. r>oavors and ottors art^ found in 
numy Uu-alitios also. Tho sttvams and lakos toom with 
tlsh and turtlo of ovory kind. To tho sponsmau this 
county will atVoiil as much huntinjt and llshinjj as can bo 
f<mnd anywhere in Florida, 

In short, to the man who wislu^s to itwest his n\onev in 
mills and factories, to the truck farmer and market >iarde- 
nor. to the stock raist^r ami farmer, the I'.calth stvker an«! 
tho sportMuan. and all who wish to invest protltably in 
n\»l estate, this county otTers facilities secottd \o no coun- 
try in tho State. 

(wriTAi. Nr.Kni:n. 

The industrious. »H*onou\ical, thous^h ]M>«>r man, may in»- 
nujjrate \o this contity and accuu\ulato p''*M^*'^'.^" • y^*^ •^ '* 
far better for tho settler desijiniuii to euivMiiV in f.inniuii, 
hon^ or elsowhetv. T»> 1h» possosst^l of sulVirient means to 
purchase his farm, to build his dwollina: .and other build- 
iujrs. to clear his tlelds. and enidose (Iumu. to buy his team 
ai\»l a sn»all stot k of cattle and sh;^»p. autl 'he tco's. .and 
to supply himst^lf. family and teams with food, until ho 
can r.ais«» the t\»eat\s frotn tho farm for his support. With 
less than that tho ojHMtitts; «>f tho farnt »au>st be t'elayeil 
\u\til W earns tho uu^uts fiH>m other labor. 

The rosT of bnildiuir with lutttber is n»dtnvd t»> tho loAv- 
est possible tljiuri^s. The amount and «o««t of doihiuis. 



409 

fhfi ox[)en8e for fuel nnd of food for the fjjriiily, jire at 
iiiininmiii i-jitcs. ('aUIo and Khccp can j^ather tlieir food 
Irom (li(! uiilmrruMl raiiK<; or <li(' jn*',!^^*'! paKUirw. Soine- 
thit4; for tlio lal)l(? iiiny be obtained from tlie liebl and 
garden in b'Hs liian otu? hundred davs af(<'r Ihc KcedH are 
placted in the Hoil. The ininii^rant need l)ut ask irnnnelf 
the <|ueHlion: Wliat Huni will carry ino to my fulurc les- 
idenee, eHlablish me on it, and keep me for six months? 
After that period he should Ilnd his supi><>rl from the 
farm ilHcdf. 

MAIIIANNA. 

MariiHina in the county scat, nnd the iU'irMi)al town in 
the county. In 1!H)2 it had a population of !H)(). It is 
beautifully Hitualed on the wcHt bank of the Thipola river, 
and iH on th<; L. & N. K. K., and Iuih through transporta- 
tion facilticH for travel or freight, and \h a thriving pros- 
perous little city. 

Marianmi in aH healthy as any city in the State. Cases 
of ty|»liuH, biIi(MiH fever and pneumonia arc rare, and 
generally are caused by the imprudence of ])ei;s(ms them- 
selves. Persons who have gone to Marianna <m a<'Ount of 
lung diseases in every instance, unh'ss they came too 
late, have been cured or permanently benefited. 

Snead on the sanu' linc^ of railroad, near the Apala(;hi- 
cola river, is the next town in impoi-tance; it had a jmp- 
iilatiori of ."'.SS in 1«MM»; it 's situated in the midst of one 
of the tinesi agi'icultural ami luut icultural secti<ms of the 
Ktate; the lands ai-e rich, and the people pros|)ei()us and 
contented. There are numci-ous (dher towns throughout 
the county (piite as well worthy of note as the fiu-cicjoing, 
but we liave not the space to treat of them in detail, and 
we can only say that all of them, and all of Jackson 
(/ounty, Ivve a thrifty, industrious, progressive, and law- 
.ibiding people. 

The principal agricultural products of 19012 were as 
follows: 

Value. 

llplaiwl cotton, bales. 1.'{,7S2 .f!482,.370 

Kea Island (•(►tton, bales, 1,(),'{1 .'')1,5.^0' 

(\)rn, bushels, tiJT.TrjO 248.875 

Outs, bushels, S<),2.'>0 44,62G 



410 

Swe<»t potators. bushels, 87,800 35,120 

FioUi i»oas, bushels. JK'i.rHH) 47,750 

IVanuls, bushols, 15r),(>50 77,825 

Syrui), barrels, 6.J)2() 150,260 

WatetMUolous, oar loads. (>0 o,000 

Anil livo stoik lui haiul for 1002: 

llorv^os. nuniluM-. 2.74S 2(H). 100 

Mulos, iiuuilRT, 1.141) 85.050 

Stock cattle, number, 0,075 45,375 

t^heep, number, 3,175 0.350 

llo«js. numlvr, 10,228 1!).22S 

]\Miltrv. all khuis. 21.050 4,780 



JEFFERSON COUNTY. 

Bounded on ilie north by Leon Connly, Florida and 
the State of deorsiia. on the east bv Madison and Taylor 
counties, on the south by IMadison and Taylor eounues. 
and the Gulf of Mexico, and on the west by Leon and 
AVakulla counties. 

Its area in scjuaie miles of land surface is 503. or 
:^70.520 aiTcs. 

In 1800 its Stipulation was 15.757. and in 10()0 it was 
10.105. of whieh nund)er 3,575 were whit(\ and 12.(521) 
were negroes^ 

At the end of the school term of 10()1 ihe county was 
maintainiui; (5;j schot)ls. 28 of whit-h were for whites, and 
35 were for m>gro(»s. 

TOPOCKAPlllCAL. 

This eonnfy is one of the division penerally denomina- 
teu Middle Florida, thoiijih to one unacquainted with the 
map. the term «H>nveys no intellijrent idea of its ival h>ca- 
tion. It lies m\ir the t'enter of that tier of northern 
counties bonlerinu on OtH^rcia. The snrfatv is jienerally 
hijili and rolling:. otTerinjj within its limits all the varie- 
ties of topojiraphy that one could see in traveling: throujjh 
sevenil States. Fnterinjj; the t'ounty at the (ieor)u;ia line, 
the traveler A\ill t'rst Ix^ called on to admire the excel- 
lence of the soil that can produce such a majjniticent 



411 

pTowth of j)inp forrst as skirts its iippt^r border. Jour- 
noying further, he will note with pleasure the increasing 
luxuriance of ve«;etation and almost rufii^n-d picturesque- 
ness of the landsi-ape. Sometimes when he has climbed 
to the top of an excejttionally lofty hill the blue outline 
of some still hij^her rid^e in the distance will almos^ de- 
lude him into the belief that he is still amon}^ the moun- 
tains. ]f it be winter he will need the presence of tropi- 
cal fruits on every hand to i)ersuade him that he is really 
in the land of eternal spring. Passing the center and 
]»ushinir on toward the southern boundary, he will be im- 
]>ressed with the ever increasing steepness and length of 
the attenuating hills, until tinally reaching and gliding 
down the highest and most rnc^ged declivity in his whole 
route, he will tind himself in the "tiat woods," which from 
there to the coast present nothing but the unvarying 
monotony of an endless succession of i)ine trees. 

Had tlie traveler on reaching ^ronticello. the county 
site, instead of taking the road leading south turned to 
the left and gone into the east(M-n ])art of the county, to- 
ward the valley of the Aucilla river, he wouhl have seen 
some of the finest farming lands in the world, (-jusiisting 
of a syst<^m of elevated ])lateaus covered with original 
groves of ?ive oak, hickory, magnolia, i)oi)lar, sweet gum, 
wild cherry, Florida mahogany and numerous other varie- 
ties of trees. This section is by far the most beautiful' 
and inviting portion of the county. 

Again, had he turned his horse's head to the northwest, 
toward ]\liccosukie lake, he would have been greeted with, 
the same series of red hills, crowned with oak and hick- 
<tr\ trees of wonderful size and luxuriance. Eveiy por- 
ti«*n of this sur]>rising topography is redeemed in the 
suii)rising fertility of the soil. 

Here nature never grows monotonous. If she has 
given variety and l>eauty of surface, it has not caused her 
to attemjtt to ''even ujt" on soil. This feature is c(M-tainly 
the substantial attraction of this section. It ditfers both, 
in kind an<l quality, consisting of a rich alluvial deposit 
immediately on a stiff clay bottom, or of a light loam 
deep to clay. The former comprises by far the most nu- 
merous and desirable class, l)eing both more fertile by 
nature, j)ossessing more capacities for being made richer, 
and are more enduring. These are best suited to grow 



412 

cotton and corn, while the other is adapted to long cotton., 
sugar cane, sweet potatoes, etc. All the lands in the 
county belong to one or the other of these classes, except 
a strip of pine timbei-ed lands in the extreme south, 
suitable for lumbering and cattle ranges, both of which 
industries are vei*y profitable. The price of lands of this 
description varies from one dollar to |!2.50 per aci-e; of 
the iecond class from P to |5 per acre; of first class, 
fl'om |5 to |8, according to fertility and location. 

The whole county is well watered with never failing 
streams of pure fresh water, and there are also numerous 
fresli water lakes. 

As a natural consequence of the numerous water- 
sheds, there are many rivers and running branches, along 
whose banks may Ije found innumerable mill sites. A few 
of these opportunities of nature have been utilized, but 
the great majority still impatiently await the commands 
of capital and the skill of the mechanic to give them life 
and value. 

The farmere of Jefferson County are a prosperous peo- 
ple, and largely an exception to the rule which applies to 
the tiller of the soil, in being independent in themselves, 
and free and able to buy where money will buy most. 
There is, perhaps, as laiige a proportion of people who 
depend upon agriculture. solely for revenue, free from 
financial embarrassment in Jefferson County, as can be 
found in any county of any State in the Union. This 
healthy state of the "backbone," whether in the planter 
with his princely domain of thousands of acres, or the 
farmer on his "one-horse farm," naturally produces a 
healthy state of business in all channels throughout the 
community. With a generous soil, and gracious seasons, 
every farmer in Jefferson County should be a lord in lys 
,own right of perfect freedom. The soil is of a character 
which produces well of itself, but which is cajtable of 
high fertilization, and intense culture, which will increase 
the natural in a proportion of three to one; and the day 
is coming in the near future for Jefferson County to inV 
tensify her system, multiply her producers, and place 
upon the markets not only a greater diversity of pro- 
ducts, but three-fold in quantity what she now has to sell 

There is land in abundance for any increase of labor, 
and at prices which will induce the incoming of settlei's. 



413 

Land which produces from ten to thirty bushels of corn 
and from one-third to three-fourths of a bale of cotton 
per acre, can be bought for from |6 to $12 per acre, and 
that grade of land which is quoted at ^3 per acre has 
yielded upon improved fulture and liberal fertilizing in 
one instance seventeen bales of cotton from thirteen 
acres, and forty bushels of corn per acre upon twelve 
acres. These instances are proof of the possibilities of 
this county upon the sound theory of what has be«n done 
can yet be done again. A large proportion of the farm 
lands of this county consist of soil of fertile and sandy 
loam, closely underlaid by a sub-soil of rich red clay, 
and is of that character which every practical, intelligent 
planter will appreciate a** the basis of success in a 
higher order of cultivation, and a sure guaranty of profit- 
able returns, when liberally fertilized. These lands are 
evenly distributed aniong small farmers and large plan- 
ters, and whether in the cozy cottage of the small farmer, 
or more pretentious liamlet of the extensive planter — 
whose comfortable home is the center of a village inhabi- 
ted by his tenants — they have evidence of an independent 
wealth of resources. 

LABOR. 

The [great bulk of the labor is of course negro ; and it is 
but truth to say that he is better suited for farm labor in 
the cotton growing sections of the South than any other 
class of people; he of all others is best calculated to stand 
the conditions which attend successful farming opera- 
tions in the summer tropics. 

The negro is full of frugal possibilities; with rare 
capacity for the labors necessary to subdue the soil, 8U]v 
•ported in every meritorious effort to improve his condi- 
tion by his white fellow citzen, and has a promise of a 
future in this climate (which alone is suited to his physi- 
cal construction) which dwarfs into insignificance the 
*egt opportunity that was ever offered a laboring man in 
the less favored North. Be it eaid to his credit, he is rap- 
idly learning to distinguish the difference between the 
•faithless promises of political adventurers, and the reali- 
Eation of a comfortable cottage, a well stocked corn crib, 
<i plentiful supply of the necessaries of life, and a well 



4U 

grounded assurance that in sickness and in health he has 
a staunch friend hard by in the person of his former 
master, and his present landlord or employer. Of the 
labor of this county it can truthfully be said that it is 
steady, reliable, and, owing to the cheapness of living, 
non-expensive. 

MONTICELLO. 

Situated on the Seaboard Air Line, also on a branch of 
the Atlantic Coast Line Railroads, is the county seat, 
and a prosperous town of 1,076 inhabitants. It is situa- 
ted on an elevated plateau; adjacent to it on the west 
are luxuriant forests of mixed woods, and to the north- 
east and south are the groves and forests of pine trees, 
stretching away to the Aucilla river on the east, and to 
the Gulf of Mexico on the south. 

Monticello is the home of prosperous, happy people, 
every one of whom is proud of his citizenship, and each 
of whom is ready to atfirm that this land is that special 
locality which a generous Creator, with masterly skill, 
finished, and resting for awhile pronounced it "good." 
Topogi^aphicall}', Monticello neither needs or desires any 
further favor from Dame Nature. It is constructed upon 
gentle slopes and drained by pleasant valleys which lead 
to the Aucilla river on the east and the Miccossukie lake 
upon the west, and these "catch basins," distant respec- 
tively nine and three miles, are a guaranty of pure air 
and sound sanitary conditions, rarely equalled, and never 
surpassed, by any other locality in the State. Indeed, 
the location is a natural water-shed, free from depres- 
sion, and he who built first upon this spot built wisely. 
It is the abidirig place of an intelligent, moral, refined 
people, who learned well, and remember ever, the lessons 
of that cordial Southern hospitality which sometimes, 
nowadays, is spoken of in less favored communities, a» 
an ante-bellum virtue. 

The cotton crop, the fruit crops and the miscellaneofls 
produce, such as eggs, poultry, butter, hides, tallow, 
Rynip, sugar, etc., and the corn, oats and rye crops, of 
which this county makes moi^e than enough for home con- 
sumption, and, therefore, has a surplus to sell to sister 
counties east and south, who afe less fortunate — these 



415 

and other incidentals oi-eate the circulatiug mediuui 
which has built up the town and its institutions, 

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 

The Sejiboard Air Line crosses the county east and 
west, and a branch of the Atlantic Coast Line recust 
northwest from Monticello to Thomasville, Ga. In the 
southern part of the county rail connection is had oyer 
the Tallahassee Southeastern, from Wacissa to Talla- 
hassee, the State capital. 

The educational advantages in the towns and county 
are excellent. 

All religious denominations ai-e well represented, in 
town and country. 

The principal agricultural products for 1902 were as 
follows : 

Value. 

Upland cotton, bales, 7,240 $278,24:^ 

Sea Island cotton, bales, 330 * 16,.S10 

Corn, bushels, 25G,539 157,^37 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 94,451 33.909 

Hay, tons, 999 10,120 

Peanuts, bushels, 27,26G 25,488 

Syrup, barrels, 3,519 33.572 

Live stock on hand in 1902 : 

Horses, number, 801 48,090 

Mules, number, 1,372 99,«49 

Stock cattle, number, 3,861 27,382 

Hogs, number, 15,437 3(],092 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 41,930 9,097 



LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

LaFayette County is bounded on the north by Madison 
and Suwannee counties, on the east by Suwannee, .\la- 
chua and Levy counties, on the south by the Gulf of Mexi- 
co, and on the west by the Gulf of Mexico and Taylor 
County. 

It has an area of 1,202 square miles of land surface, or 
769,280 acres. 



416 

Its popnlation in 1890 was ^,686, and in 1900 it was 
4,987, of which number 4,224 were whites and 763 were 
negroes. 

At the termination of the school term of 1901 there were 
in the county 42 schools, of which 41 were for whites and 
1 for negroes. 

Lafayette County is one of the counties included in 
what has for many years been denominated Middle Flori- 
da, and lies immediately west of the Suwannee river. The 
peculiarity of its position has until quite recently pre- 
vented itxS development along with other counties while 
no more deserving, though more favorably situated as far 
as accessibility to markets and transportation facilities 
is concerned; formerly its only means of ingress and 
egress, except by private or public stage conveyance over 
country roads, was via the Suwannee river steamboat 
lines to Cedar Keys. Now, in addition to these, she haa 
rail communication from Live Oak via Mayo the county 
seat, and San Pedro Bay to Perry, the county seat of 
Taylor county ; the same line of road is being constructed 
westward to connect with either the Tallahassee South- 
eastern, at Wacissa, or at some point on the Carrabelle, 
Tallahassee and Gulf Railroad. With communication 
opened to the outside world, this county will be one of the 
most desirable in the State. It contains large bodies of 
ithe finest quality of both hammock and pine lands, which 
•can be bought at from |2,00 to flO.OO per acre, depending 
upon location. With one or two exceptions, it has the 
finest bodies of pine timber yet standing in the northern 
part of the State ; a,nd it is not too much to say that some 
of the finest cypress timber in the Southern States is to be 
found in this county. 

There are also immense tracts of the very best grazing 
lands, and in no county do live stock of all kinds thrive 
better throughout the year, than upon the broad savannas 
•of the middle and southern section of Lafayette County. 

It has thousands of acres of as good farm, fruit and 
vegetable lands, as can be found in the State; soil for all 
of these purposes is abundant, and can be had at reasona- 
ble prices. It produces all the standard crops, and in \he 
gardens are grown all the fruits and vegetables desired 
for home consumption. The country is high and rolling, 
is well drained by numerous streams that never go dry, 
and ifl as healthy as any other part of the country. 



417 

Its mineral resources consist of phosphate rock, only, 
as far as known, but these deposits are known to be very 
extensive and of high grade ; they are undeveloped as yet, 
awaiting the advent of capital interested in such matters 
for their development. 

Mayo is the county seat, and is a thriving little town, 
fiituated in the northern portion of the county on the 
Ban l*edro Railroad. 

Old Town, on the lower Suwannee river, is one of the 
old historical points of the State; it is located in a seciion 
of the county famed for its rich lands and splendid farm«;, 
and is an important shipping point on the Suwannee 
river. 

The principal products of the county for 1902, were us 
follows : ' 

Value. 

Sea Island cotton, bales, 915 $ 55,215 

Corn, bushels, 108,462 108,-102 

Oats, bushels, 07,810 61,710 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 07,905 . .' 33,r.99 

Field peas, bushels, 86,005 80,005 

Peanuts, bushels, 06,510 ; ; . . . 00,5' 

Velvet beans, bushels, 27,100 /. 27,100 

Syrup, barrels, 1,955 , 24,010 

Live stock on hand as follows: 

Horses, number, 513 21,5 13 

Mules, number, 314 9,037 

Stock cattle, number, 7,724 00,208 

Hogs, number, 48,825 48,825 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 19,534 7, (24 



LAKE COUNTY. 

This county is bounded on the north by Marion and 
Volusia counties, on the east by Orange and Volusia, on 
the south by Orange and Polk, and on the west by Sumter 
and Marion counties. It has an area of 1,128, square 
miles of land surface, or 721,920 acres. 

27 H P 



' 418 

In 1890, its population numbered 8034, and in "1900, 
it was 7,467, of which number 4,829, were -white, aiid 
2,638 were negi'oes. 

(Note — the decrease in population was the reeuli of 
the great blizzards of 1894-5 which destroyed the fruit 
groves; the loss has been fully made up and the next 
census will show a gain over the last two censuses.) 

At the end of the school term of 1901, there were in 
the county 58 schools, of which 43 were for whites and 
15 for negroes. 

Lake County has for its eastera boundary line the St. 
Johns River, from which it stretches westward abour 
sixty mile**, and has an average breadth of about eigh- 
teen miles. 

It has at this time forty-three U. S. post offices. That 
particular part of peninsular Florida so long and so fa- 
vorably known as "The Lake Region," is now chiefly em- 
braced in Lake county. 

The Western portion of the county is really the high- 
est land on the peiiiTisular, and mifht be termed the water 
shed of thi<* part of the State. From waters here col- 
lected the crooked Ocklawaha persues its devious ways 
to the Atlantic; the Withlacoochee begins its passage 
to the «iu'f I f Mexico; here the Hillsboi-ough river stares 
for Tampn l^ay. vaid the Kissimmee for Lake Okeechohef* 
and the Everglades. 

Many portionts of this (H)unty are several hundred feet 
above tide water. The altitude of this region, nearly 
midway between the Atlantic and Gulf affords its popu- 
lation the luxury of a constant fanning with salt breezes» 
which, with the porous natui'e of the soil, the abseme ol' 
stagnant water, the bright sunshine, the pure drinking 
water obtained fi*om deep wells and artesian springs, and 
the balsamic exhalations of pine forests.- render the lo- 
cality as healthful as any portion of the globe. Scarcely 
any chronic diseases are found here among old residents, 
and one established here in a well equipped home with 
suitable gardens and groves with a contented mind and a 
united family needs no other sanitarium, and comes as 
near to the Adamic Paradise as anything found in the 
world. 

About one^sixth of the surface of the county is covered 
with beautiful lakes of clear fresh water, from which cir- 



419 

cumstance the county takes its name. These are known 
as Lakes Ilurtis, E.w8tis, Gniiin, Dunham, Dora, ^ ale, 
Minneola and Minnehaha, besides scores of lakes of 
smaller dimensiont*, scattered all over the county. Lake 
Apopka, covering nearly sixty square miles, lies in Or- 
ange county at tiie south eastern border of Lake county, 
and Lake George, a vast sheet of water, forming a part of 
the St. Johns Kiver, also skirts Lake county on its north- 
ern apex. All these waters abound with fish of excellent 
quality for the table through the entire year. 

The central figure in the county, is Lake Harris, cover- 
ing eighteen or more square miles, encircled with high, 
beautiful biuiks forming sites for several chuviiiiug 
towns, the adjacent country being interspei*sed with or- 
ange groves, villas, market gardens, and farms. 

A short run eastward through Dead River from Lake 
Harris and the visitor enters Lake Eustis, another 
charming sheet of water, oval in shape, and several miles 
in extent, suri"Ounded by a smiling country and some 
pretty towns. Lake Griffin separated from Lakes Harris 
and Eustis at points by only narow stretches of land, 
extends into ihe noith western portion of the cour.ly. 
This lake is about two and one half by sixteen miles in 
extent and much of the rich hammock soil adjoining it is 
underlaid with lime marl, almost exhaustless in fertility. 

In the southern extremity of the county are situated 
Lakes Minneola and Minnehaha, each being several miles 
in extent surrounded by a high, rolling, salubrious coun- 
try, well adapted to grazing, to market gardening, to 
fruit culture, and to general farming. These lakes are all 
navigable, as are also the streams, extending between 
them, and numerous small steamboats conduct regular 
business on these waters, besides many steam yachts, 
owned for pleasure and profit by enterprising families. 

Besides these facilities of navigation the county is 
BO admirably equipped with railroads that no family can 
possibly settle more than a few miles from any of these 
lines, and but a short distance from a thriving town. 

The two great lines of railroad extending through the 
county are the Plant System, now controlled by the 
Atlantic Coast Line, and the Seaboard Air Line, both 
large and powerful corporations. Coming southward from 
the Atlantic Seaboard, the Plant System line of road 



420 

enters Lake county and has depots at Conant, Lady Lake, 
Chitwin, Fruitland Park, Leesburg, Okahumpka and 
Cason on its sweep to Tampa and Charlotte Harbor. The 
same line also extends from Leesburg around Lake Eus- 
tis, and partly around Lake Harris, with depots at 
Grand View, Belle rene, Lamir, Tillson, Orange Bend, 
Lisbon, Lancaster, Grand Island, Higley, Fort Mason, 
Eustis, Mt. Homer, Tavares, and Lane Park. Also from 
Furt Musort to the ^t. lolius River, with depots at riua- 
tilla, Glejulale, Altoona, Pittman, Ravenswood, Summit, 
Sellers, ].;!ke Cummings, Bryausville and Astor. The 
Orange Belt road, now in the Plant System, extending 
from Lake Monroe on the St. Johns to Point Pinallis on 
the Gulf, passes through the southern portion of the 
county and has depots at Minneola, Clermont and Mas- 
reuto on its way to Sanford on the St. lohus River. 

The Seaboard Air Line, also, coming southward from 
the Atlantic Seaboard enters Lake county and has depots 
at Whitney, Mount Clair, Leesburg, Sunny Side, Eldo- 
rado and Tavares, passing on through Ellsworth and 
Victoria on its way to Orlando. It also connects at 
Tavares with a line extending through Mt, Dora and Sor- 
rento on its way to Sanford on the St. Tehus River,., 

The Tavares, Atlantic and Gulf railroad starting at 
Tavares runs along Lake Apopka with depots at Mt. 
Verde, Minneola, and Clermont. The Yalaha and Wes- 
tern railroad has just been constructed and runs from 
Yalaha through Bloomfield and Richmond to Oklahump- 
ka, where it connects with the Atlantic Coast Line sys- 
tem. Another line has been graded from Lisbon to Em- 
eralda Island, a rich orange district. Nearly every village 
and considerable hamlet in the county is on the line of a 
railroad, affording fruit growers and gardeners the ad- 
vantage of easy shipments for their products. 

iSOILS. 

Lake County containe about all the varieties of soil 
in the State except the limestone. It has drained swamp 
1: nd, low hammock, high hammock, oak, pine, and scrub 
land. It has much rich hammock (hardwood) land bop- 
dering Its great lakes. This variety is adopted to fruit 
growing (unless too wet) to every kind of gardening, and 



421 

to general farming. Three crops per year is no unusual 
thing en such land. In November it may be prepared 
for cabbage or lettuce, about April first planted to corn 
which ripens in August, and a crop of hay may be cured 
on the same field in September. But the oak and pine 
lands constitute by far the larger .portion all over the 
State, and these are capable of far greater productiveness 
than was formerly supposed. They are much more easil;f, 
cleared and subdued than the hammocks with their pon- 
derous forests and tangles of wild vines, and with judiei- 
ous tiila.ue, including the planting of legumes, and a 'irtle 
aid from cattle they become highly productive for fruit 
growing, vegetable gardens, and for all varieties of gen- 
eral farm crops. 

INDUSTRIES. 

A wide variety of industries, beckon the new settler in 
Florida. Every family should own some land, the 
amount to be determined by the nature of the industry 
to be undertaken, and every settler should strive to be an 
adept at something. A rapid, irresolute, untrained man, 
will fail anywhere, and choice of country adds little to 
him. The ^-range industr;\- — One thing has been set I led 
by intelligent men, viz: that there has been no permanenv 
change in the cMmate of Florida. The intense cold of 
1894-5 crippling the orange trees^ was no more intense 
than in February 1835, and no colder than other periods 
in the previous century. xV study of the climatic history 
of the region reveals the fact thiit freezing weather has 
occasionally occurred in Florida and in Mexico from the 
earliest historic periods. All countries and occupations 
meet with crcapiorial disasters, which brave and well 
poised men overcome. 

Ten years ago the people of Lake county claimed to 
produce one-seventh of the citrus fruit exported from the 
State. The orange tree is entirely at home in Lake conn, 
ty. The wild orange groves or\oinally found growing 
on the banks of Lake Griffin and Lake Harris were never 
exceeded in size but in the one instance at Orange Lake. 
Of the quality of the fruit grown here the judges have 
testified in the scores of premiums awarded our growers 
at the World's Exposition at New Orleans in 1885, and 



422 

on many other occasions. In variety, in all that makes 
supebr flavor and in shipping qualities, finer fruit is not 
grown on the globe. Orange groves in our county are 
now in a fine bearing condition again and a generous 
harvest is anticipated. Our growers have learned valua- 
ble lessons in the school of experience. By budding a 
tree near the ground, a small embankment of dry soil 
will save the bud from frost, and a little heated air from 
a burning wood pile will sometimes save a crop of choice 
fruit. The orange industry appears with us about as 
hopeful as ever. If one drives the length of Lake county 
and views the groves he will not think the growers ditr 
couraged. Those immense orangeries around Sunny Side 
and Orange Bend are assuming great proportions, and 
fine groves of baauty and vahieare found everywhere 
ihroiigli the foi.uiiy. Mr. E. H. Mote of Leesburg, vho 
was at one time the largest orange dealer in the Statfe, 
and who lost a small fortune in the blizzard of 1894-5, 
lias now ten thousand budded trees in one enclosure at 
Orange Bend, many of them loaded with fruit. He be- 
lieves that to persevere is to succeed. 

Peaches are now largely grown here and many think 
them quite as profitable as oranges or lemons. At Lady 
Lake, at Mt. Dor;), at Sarrento, at Eustis and at other 
points, many peach orchards are cultivated with increas- 
ing success. The peach tree grows much larger here than 
in New Jersey and remains fruitful three times as long. 
The writer of this sketch has trees with ten or moi-e bush- 
els of fruit and the peaches are of superior quality. 

Pears, plums, figs, pine apples, (under cover) and 
strawberries yield remunerative harvests. Rapid trains 
with refrigerator cars carry the more perishable ]»roducts 
to a ready market. 

General fanning has taken on new life during the last 
half a do'/(»n years. Corn fields on pine land, that ai*e well 
tilled, yield twenty or more barrels of ears of corn in the 
husk, per acre, and rich hammocks do much better, Oats 
and hay are marketable crops. Irish potatoes grow best 
in moist or marshy land and always command good 
prices, and sweet potatoes of excellent quality grow any- 
where with care. Cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, peas, beans, 
squash, onions, cucumbers, egg plant, peppers, canta- 
loupes, and watermelons, are largely cultivated. Mr. F. S. 



423 

Johnson near Leesburg recently shipped a. car of lettuce 
a day for a considerable time, and single planters culti- 
vate, at times, a hundred acres of melons. Two hundred 
and forty-two dollars were taken by a grower for a car 
of melons just loaded. Stories of largxir prices are com- 
mon but this true one will suffice. The applied science 
of the Government Agricultural Colleges, elminating the 
causes of blight and the insects, is greatly augmenting 
d\Q profits of the grower, and gives a degree of certain- 
ty to undertakings. 

Long staple cotton formerly grown here in its perfec- 
tion, has mostly given place to gardening. Sugar cane, 
a profitable crop, is not much grown as the same outlay 
in gardening is more profitable. Cassava, yielding 
starch and tappioca, is much grown as feed for cattle. 
Velvet beans, cow peas, and beggar weed, (Desmodium) 
are grown everywhere, as feed for stock and poultry, and 
for land renovation. No land remains poor or unproduc- 
tive where thes3 legumes are cultivated, as they extract 
the nitrogen from the atmosphere and bring it into the 
ground. Cattle rangej may now be obtained cheaply, 
with hundreds v>v thousands of acres, including Iak(.\s, 
that can be fenced with wire, stocked, and held for profit. 
The cattle industry is rising all over the State. Blooded 
cattle are common here, especially Jersey's, Gurnesey't?, 
and Holstein. Horse raising and raula raising are good 
industries. Sheep do well. Swine thrive with attention 
or without, and some good varieties are bred here. 
Fowls of all kinds prosper with care and yield, as every- 
where else, good rturns. Bees are working here most of 
the year, and yield the finest honey to their onwera, 
gathered from the orange blossom and the palmetto. In 
addition to land culture, merchandising, and the profes- 
sions, we have here also the tourist industry which can 
only increase as the years go by. The close proximity 
of Florida with its genial climate to the gi-eat northern 
cities of America, and the general increase of wealth will 
more arid more render Florida the winter summer parlor 
of the republic, where every isettler can either accommo- 
date visitors' or handle the supplies that must be con- 
sumed. 



424 
TOWNS. 

Tavares, sitiiuled near the center of the county, is the 
County Seat. It is a pretty town, nestling on the western 
beach of Lake Dora, laid out in regular oiaer with neatly 
paved streets. The court house is a goodly brick struc- 
ture, with court room and separate offices for the dif- 
ferent officials, and near by is a strong jail for the deten- 
sion of criminals. There is a large hotel, the county 
*' \bstract of 'J itles" office, one church, an unfinished 
opera house, numerous stores and residences and the 
p;in?ing office of the "Tavares Herald," a weekly publi- 
cation. Tavares is a fine railroad center. 

Eusfife, a few miles from Tavares, situated on the 
eastern bank of Lake Eustis, with five miles of clayed 
streets and roads, four churches, excellent schools, ice 
factory, a bank and a great variety of small industries is 
considered by its old residents the finest place in the 
world. It also publishes a weekly paper "The Lake 
Region."' A bicycle path starts at Eustis, passes through 
Mt. Onra, Zellwood. Altamont, and Longwood to Sanford 
on the St. Johns River. Eustis is growing and has a pop- 
ulation of nearly six hundred. 

Umatilla, a few miles further east on the line of road 
to the St. Johns, is the center of a brisk trade and of 
many thriving enterprises. It has two churches, a high 
school, good depot ,well filled stores, and a rich surround- 
ing counti^', divided into market gardens and fruit groves. 
Its people know liow to dig gold, or rather its equiv- 
alent out of the soil and are doing it. 

Astor, oti ^he bank of the beautiful St. Johns River, has 
its attractions and should develop into a city. 

Mt. Dora, as its name indicates, sits high looking down 
on the placid waters of the lake whose name it bears, and 
furniwlu'.s die ground for the Only chautauqua in the re- 
gion. 

Sorrento has many well built houses, good churches, 
and well cultivated places, that are occupied by a cultured 
people. 

Yalaha, beautiful for situation crowning the queen 
bank on the south side of Lake Harris, with its waving, 
tropical palms, needs only people and money to render It 
a. center of gi'^eat attraction. 



425 

Conant, on the northern limit, is a new town founded 
on the entrance of the Florida Southern Railway, and 
named in honor of it^ manager, Sherman Conant, 

Lady Lake, an old town, noted for its good lands, early 
peaches, and its excellent society. 

Fruitland Park, also smiles upon the visitor with im- 
posing architecture, extensive well kept grounds, pretty 
lakes and the variety of its productions. 

Whitney is chiefly noted for its brick manufactory. 

Mount Clair is a tidy suburban district with elegant 
homes, two miles from Leesburg. 

Leesburg, named from a family by the name of Lee, is 
the largest incorporated town in the county. It is situated 
on a strip of rolling land about eight hundred yards 
wide, separating Lake Harris and Lake Griffin, witTi 
four churches, fine schools, ice factory, two barrel fac- 
tories, a wagon factory, well filled stores in solid brick 
blocks, and a strong bank. It has a printing office and 
issues the "Leesburg Commercial," the oldest paper in 
the county. It has also an armory and an effective fire 
department. Its streets are well paved and the town has 
a population approaching a thousand. 

And what shall T say of Minneola^nd Clermont, twin 
sisters, separated by a single mile on those high beauti- 
ful lakes seen only to be admired; of Mont Verde, nest- 
ling on the bank of the wide Lake Apopka ; of Oka- 
humpka, with its choice hotel ; of Bloomfield, of Ma^^cotte, 
of Villa City, o'f Winstead, of Lisbon, of Grand Island, 
of Fort Mason, of Altoona, Victoria. Cassia, Astatnhi, 
Seneca, Paisley and Lane Park? Space will not allow 
of special treatment, but all these places have cultured, 
thrivirig, and worthy people who will welcome new and 
virtuous settlers, who will make homes on the rich domain 
«till unoccupied. 

KAOLIN MINES. 

Lake County is further distinguished for its numerous 
deposits of white kaolin; (potters clay). It Is found in 
various places all over the county. The entire region 
extending on both banks of the Palatlakaha River from 
Lake Minneola to Lnke Harris, a distance of twenty 
miles, is largely underlaid with this material, the mines 



426 

vastly exceeding in volume any others of the kind ever 
discovered in the history of the vk^orld. Three large re- 
fining plants have been established, two near the village 
of Kichmond, and one at Yalaha. A railroad to handle 
the products of these mines, has been constructed. The 
refined clay is adapted to all the finest uses of the potier 
in the manufacture of china ware and poroeliaiu, and it 
is also sold to the paper manufacturer. In addition to 
thase higher uses, the material for fire brick, for a very^ 
fine white, and of a buff colored facing brick, is furnished, 
besides, vast quantities of disintegrated quartz, used in 
the manufacture of plate glass. In these enormous de- 
posits of pure white kaolin are the potentialities, of vast 
and permanent industries, that will extend through cen- 
turies. That these enterprises have been slow in getting 
under great headway is no dispargement whatever, as 
large enterprises, like large bodies, move slowiy. Pure 
white kaolin min2s of long clay have been held in high 
esteem for ages, and are in our day more important than 
formerly. It is only a question of time when the manu- 
facture of pottery and of high priced brick, if not of plate 
glass, will be conducted within easy reach of these mines. 

CLAY EOADS. 

The people of Lake County deserve special commenda- 
tion for their enterprise in building . clay roads. The 
old Florida sand road was a horse killer — especially to a 
loaded team. During the last few years about sixty 
miles of road have been straightened, graded and covered 
with a heavy bed of red clay dug from the deep earth; 
which is so firmly banked in as to afford a high way of 
great beauty and comfort, for light, and for heavy dri?^ 
ing, and for bicycles. On highways, Avhere formerly two 
horses toiled wearily to haul half a ton, now one horse 
plays with a ton. About two miles of this road have been 
constructed between Clermont and Monte Vista. The peo- 
ple of Eustis have constructed five miles of it in and 
around their town. Tavares, has clayed its principal 
streets. The western portion of the county having I^es- 
burg for its center has done a magnificent work. One 
line extends from licesburg southward over Corley Island 
through Helena to Okahumpka, thence around the soutli 



;^1 42T 

side of Lake Harris, through Richmond and Bloomficld 
to Yalaha, fourteen miles, Another line extends from 
Leesburg to Fruitland Park, still another to Mont Clair 
and Whitney with separate branches. Another long line 
extends from Leesburg through New Town and through 
the Orange Bend district extending to Lisbon, with sail 
another branch line to Sunny Side. These improvei 
highways render light riding an exquisite pleasure, and 
heavy teaming rapid and easy. For this work the peo- 
ple subscribed so liberally that little increase in taxation 
was made and no debt incurred. 

LUMBER. 

Saw mills for the lumber manufacture of lumber are 
located at convenient points all over the county and 
building and fancing lumber can be obtained at from 
eight to twelve dollars per thousand feet. 

CRIME. 

At a special election held under provisions of State 
Constitution some years ago. the voters of Lake County 
by a large majority, prohibitsd the sale of intoxicating 
liquors in the county, and the few that have attemT)ted 
to sell clandestinely have mostly come to grief. This 
largely accounts for the exiellent state of morals among 
US and for our low taxes. Profanity is seldom heard i-n 
our streets, and but little litigation occurs among \^•hite 
men. The sheriff, Mr. Jas. W. Northrop has at request, 
furnished the writer in tabulated foriii an account r.f all 
the crime discovered in the county during tlie last four 
year-s. This table shows that '*n four years not a single 
white p(»rson has been convictccv in Lnke county of mur- 
der, adultery, rape, libel, grand op petit larceny, bigamy, 
keeping house of ill fame, deserting family, of obtaining 
goods under false pretenses, or for carrying cimcealed 
weapons. Three white men have been convicted in that 
time of selling intoxicating liquors, two for assault, one 
sentenced to State prison for breaking and enterinsr a 
building, and two sent to jail for unlawful fishing. What 
county on the continent with eight or ten thousand pec- 



428 

pie can show a more wholesome record in the matter of 
crime among white citizens? 

The crime of the resident colored people is also small. 
The turpentine farms, manufacturing naval stores, eiii- 
ploy large gangs of colored men, and renegades who have 
escaped justice in other States, plunge into the wilds of 
Florida for concealment, work a little commit crime and 
are brought into court. 

As the county has no debt whatever and the State a 
very small one, and as the government is very economical- 
ly administered, the county commissioners serving for 
about pay enough to pay their board, the days they are 
on duty, and no fat salary is paid to anybody, the taxes 
are exceedingly light. 

The assessed valuation of the county stands at $2,305,- 
809. The rate of taxation is for the county nine mills 
and for the State five mills. The financial statement for 
1901 was $25,971.97, of which amount there came througn 
the tax collector |22,507.(>1, and from fines, hunting per- 
mits, tax redemption, hire or convicts, etc., |3,4G4.o6, 
or a per capita tax of about |2.80. 

POLITICS. 



Politically, the county is Democratic, but some towns, 
like Eustis, is largely Republican. Men I'ead and think, 
and talk, and vote on all political issues, here, precisely 
as American freemen do all over this broad land. No bet- 
ter evidence of the excellent political spirit prevailing 
here need be pvesented than the fact that the writer who 
has resided here twenty-two years, and is known as a life 
long Republican, was, unanimously chosen by a board of 
Democratic commissioners to prepare this article. 
Families are rated for their virtues, pot for their poli- 
tics, 



429 

CHURCHES. 

The following table shows the condition of the princi- 
pal (white) churches: 

Church Church 

Edifices. Members, 

lethodist Episcopal Church South.. 12 360 

*rotestant Episcopal 7 237 

baptist 9 465 

'resby terian 8 224 

lethodist Episcopal (> 100 

longregational 2 52 

)i?cip]es 1 CO 

The colored people have many churches and a large 
hurch membership. 

In New^town, a colored village adjoining the corporate 
mits of IvCPsburg, the colored people have two large 
'ell built churches with lofty spires. 

SCHOOLS. 

Many evidences indicate that the Lake County schools 
re in a prosperous condition. The facts that our school 
fficials are seldom changed, that the five mill school tax 
t paid most cheerfully and that the management of 
:;hool afl'airs is usually accepted with approval, are con- 
incing proofs that our people work together for the 
tst educational interests of the children. 

There are in the county sixty-three public schools, of 
hich forty-eight are for white children and fifteen for 
stored. The enrollmont of punils in the schools is about 
ighteen hundred, twelve hundred and fifty of whom are 
hite and five hundred and fifty colored. The average 
ttendance is over twelve hundred. The largest school in 
le county is at Leesburcr. It had an enroiIm?nt last year 
f two hundred and twelve. Schools are sustained wher- 
rer there are eight or ten pupils who d'j not live within 
?a«!onable distance of any other school. The minimum 
ingth of term is six months, but several schools continue 
^om seven to nine months. 

There are in the county six special tax districts, viz: 
ectiburg, Eustis, Umatilla, Mt Dora, Lisbon and Em- 



430 

pire. Each of these districts has a good fund for inci- 
dental expt^nses, and assists in extending the term. 

Nearly all the school housct* in the county are com- 
fortable and well 8eated,those in the larger towns being 
especially good and adequate. Leesburg haa a handsome 
brick building of six rooms, besides a separate frame 
building used for the primary grade only. The buildings 
at Eustis, Tavares, Umatilla, Mt. Dora, and Minneola. 
are excellent in structure, well fuiiiished and kept in good 
condition. 

Nearly all the Lake County teacher-s are citizens cf this 
county but the rule of employing home talent is not aa- 
hered to so closely as to work injuiy to the schools. High 
grade is insisted upon. Changing teachers from one 
achool to another is discouraged by the school officers, 
except when absolutely necessary. Teachers often re- 
main in the same school from five to ten year?;, and a few 
ha.vfc now held their places for fifteen years. A large num- 
ber of our teachers were educated in the schools of thif 
oonnty, enteiing other institutions only for education in 
the science of teaching. Teachers wagijs range from 
twenty-five dollars per month according to grade and size 
of school. 

Our school expenditures amount to about nineteen 
thousand dollars annually. Our income is ^sufficient to 
meet this demand and all wan-ants are paid at par. 

CLIMATE AND RAINFALL. 

The climate of Lake C-ounty is particularly bland and 
bracing. The elevation affords constant breeze, and the 
dietance from the sea softens the salted atmosphere. The 
summers are long but not extremely wnrm, the mercury 
rarely reaching 96 degi'ces farenheit, the mean annual 
temperature for the county being about 70 degrees. 

The rninfall of the State in 1901, w^as 58.47 inches, and 
for Eustis, in the heart of Lake County, for the same 
year 57.47 inches. 

We have no race war. We Ifave no more people of color 
than are needed to conduct the enterprises already estab- 
lished. 



4;si 

PRICE OF LAND. 

Wild lauds cau be purchased now at from one dollar 
per acre upward according to quality and location, and 
many improved x)laces desarted after the blizzard of 
1894-5, can be obtained at great bargains. Some places 
with good buildings, wire fences, and many fruit trees 
are still in the market at low prices. 

The principal agricultural products of 1902 were as 
follows: 

Value, 

Corn, bushels, 28,317 !P28.317 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 38,513 26,621 

Syrup, barrels, 285 2,805 

Hay, tons, 850 8,550 

Velvet beans, bushels, 4,965 . . . .• 6,465 

Cabbages, crates. 13,680 10,730 

Tomii trto.s, crates, 6.625 7,130 

Watermelons, carloads, 189 15,840 

Baans, crates, 10.002 1 1.118 

Oranges, boxes. 18.935 24,095 

Peaches, bushels, 4,025 3,977 

Live stock on hand in 1902: 

Horses, number. 764 58,832 

Mules, number. 196 - 21,600 

Stock cattle, number, 7,400 , 65,50iT 

Hogs, number, 6,291 12,543 

Poultrv, all kinds, number, 60,928 15,470 



LEE COUNTY* 

Lee County is bounded on the north by DeSr»to, on ihe 
east by Dade, on the south by Monroe County a^id the 
Gulf of Mexico, and on the west by the Gulf of Sfexico. 

It has an area of 4,641 square miles of land surface, or 
2,970.2-tO acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 1.414, and in 1900 it was 
3,071, of which number 2,737 were whites and 334 were 
negroes. 

At the end of the school term of 1901 there were in the 



432 

county 25 schools, of which 24 were for whites and 1 for 
negroes. 

I'rior to 1887 Lee County was not on the map, for it 
came into existence that year, together with hair a dozen 
other new counties, under an act of the Legishiture of 
1887. Prior to that time it was a part of the county of 
Monroe, of which Key West was and is the center of pop- 
ulation. With the exception of Monroe and Dade, J.ee 
County is the southernmost county in Florida, and the 
Uu.ted States, and lies in the 25th and 2Gth degrees (»f 
latitude. 

Although Lee County started out to do business on its 
own account with a vast empire embraciug 1,800 square 
miles, the population was considerably less than the 
number of square miles, there being but few more thau 
one thousand souls within the borders of the county, and 
one-half of this number were residents of the county seat, 
Ft. Myers. The mother county, too, had turned her off- 
spring away to shift for herself without a dollar to ber 
name. 

But here the vast territory came to her assistance, for 
although the population was very scattering, the lands 
were in the hands of large corporations and in the atggre- 
gate the millions of acres afforded a tax revenue that ena- 
bled the county to meet its running expenses, and set in 
operation a school system, improvement of public roads, 
the building of bridges, and ultimately a good jail, court 
house and clerk's office, with large steel vault. 

The county has been fortunate in the selection of its 
Boards of County Commissioners, and as a result the 
county is today abreast of the leading counties in the 
State in the matter of public improvements, does not owe 
a cent for bonds or otherwise, and has plenty of cash iu 
the treasury to meet the general expenses and to continue 
the work of improving the highways, public schools, etc. 

Today the population of the county is about 4,000. The 
aggregate value of real and personal property amounts lo 
$1,500,000, upon which there is a state and county tax of 
eighteen mills on the doliar, four mills of this being for 
roads and five mills for schools. In addition to this there 
is a special school tax of three mills in the Fort Myers, 
Buckingham, Alva and South Alva school districts. Al- 
together the revenue raised from these taxes amount to 
about 120,000. 



433 
STOCK RAISING. 

In the early days of the county, and even to this day, 
the leading industry has been stock raising. This busi- 
ness flourished back in the seventies, when Florida was 
the principal sourte of beef supply for Cuba. In those 
days thousands of head of (attle were shipped from Puuta 
Rassa direct to Cuba. After a time Cuba raised its own 
beef, and there was only the Key West market left for 
our stock raisers, and this market only called for about 
2w hpal of beef cattle per week. But in 181)8 the Span- 
ish-American war again created a good demand for beef 
in the Queen of the Antilles, and Florida came in for sup- 
plying a good share of the demand, on an average of a 
thousand head of cattle a month being shipped from Pun- 
ta RasFa to Cuba for a year or more after the war closed. 

Stock raising is at present engaged in by comparatively 
few persons in the county, but all of these are prosperous, 
find the busire^s very remunerative, and own large herds 
of cattle, individual owners having as many as .5.()n() head. 
These cattle graze en the wild lands, the cattle men hav- 
ing fenced oif large districts which they use as their pas- 
tures. The unusually high price of beef has benetlted 
the stock men in South Florida, but on the whole the busi- 
ness of raising the native S( rub stock on wild ranges has 
seen'its best days, and from now on more attention will 
be given to improved stock and pastures, it having been 
demonstrated that the growing of such fodder plants as 
velvet beans has opened up a way to greatly increase the 
weight of even the native scrub cattle, and already stock 
men from other states are being attracted to this county 
by the possibilities in this line. 

VEGETABLE GROWING. 

The growing of vegetables for market early began to 
attract the new settlers to this county. The lands on the 
Islands along the coast were found to be suitable for 
Rowing good crops of tomatoes, egg plants, beans, cab- 
bage, eic. The slight risk of frost encouraged truckers to 
engage in this business on the islands of Sanibel, Pine 
Island. Estero, Marco, etc. The truckers gave most of 

28 H P 



434 

fheir attention to the growing of tomatoes, finding that 
they could produce two crops for market during seasons 
when they would meet with little competition from other 
localities. It is now the rule on these islands to plant the 
first crop in Aujgust and Hetpember and market the toma- 
toes in the latter part of November and during December, 
and to plant a spring crop in January and February, 
which is marketed in April and Mny, being the fli-st of the 
€arly vegetables to reach the Northern markets. 

Growers frequently realize as high as $2.00 per crata 
net for tomatoes. Cut Avorms are the greatest enemy to 
the plants, but even with this drawback the growers have 
steadily made money and improved their conditions. 
These islands as a rule face the open gulf on one side and 
inland bays ou the other, making them very healthy sec- 
tions in which to live. During the summer months insects 
are found very troublesome on these islands, and the resi- 
dents find it necessary to thoroughly screen their houses. 

In the winter and spring months they are, however, 
ideal places to stop at, and all the hotels and boarding 
houses are crowded with health-seekers and tourists from 
all parts of the United States and from foreign countries. 
Sanibel, particularly, has become quite a popular island 
resort, the beautiful Gulf beach, with its excellent bath- 
ing and fishing — even in the winter months — and rich 
field for the conchalogist, attracting increasing numbers 
each season. 

GRANGE GROWING. 

Orange and igrape fruit (Pomelos) growing for profit, 
may be said to date from the spring of 1895 in Lee Connty. 
Up to that time very little attention had been given to the 
growing of these fruits. There were a few old bearing 
groves in Fort Myers, New Prospect. Alva, Hickey's Creek 
(Rialto), with the largest groves on Orange River, (Buck- 
ingham), altogether producing about fifteen thousand 
boxes of oranges. 

The terrible disaster that befell the State of Florida in 
the destruction of the orange groves by the two freezes of 
the winter of 1804-05, w.is the cause of at once attrjicting' 
the attention of orange growers to Lee Connty, for in the 
wreck of the thousands of acres of fine bearin;g groves all 



435 

over the State, the bearing orange and grape frnit tree« 
of Lee County were the only ones that esoaped. Not eveu 
the ripe fruit on the trees was frozen, and that spring and 
for several seasons after, Lee County snp[>lied the 8tate 
with these fruits. Oranges sold for -?2.00 per box on ihe 
trees, while grape fruit sold for fabulous pri<es, in some 
instances bringing as high as |15.00 per box, and it was a 
common occurrence for the fruit from single trees to bring 
as much as two hundred dollars. The value of these 
bearing groves rajjidly jumjied up in price, one grove for 
instance for which fio.oOO was paid in 1S94, now being 
held at §45,OC>0. All of the bearing groves have paid their 
new owners from one to three hundred ]}<^p cent, on thei* 
investments. 

It was natural that this immunity from killin,^ frosts 
shouM not only attract orange growers from other sec- 
tions of Florida, but persons from other states seekin*^ in- 
vestments in Florida. As a result the country along the 
Caloosahatchee river has been rapidly settHng up, and 
hundreds of acres of land has been cleared and planted in 
orange and gi'ape fruit trees. 

Lee County has now some of the largest groves coming 
on in the State. One man, Mr. D. A. G. Floi-ence of He- 
lena, Montana, has now 30,000 orange and grape fruit 
trees planted on 350 acres. Other large gi'oves are the 
McGregor groves of 100 acres; Garvey Bros., GO acres; J. 
T. Murphy, 100 acres ; Borland Bros., 60 acres ; Hugh Alac- 
donald, Jr., 100 acies; K. Ingram O. Travere, 25 acres, 
which will yield 7,000 or 8,000 boxes this season; A^ S. 
Kells, 25 acres, and many othei's. 

The crop has now reached 75,000 boxes, and as the 
young groves come into bearing will rapidly increase, and 
in five years time the output of oranges and grape fruit 
will have reached one quarter of a million boxes. This 
industry is now firmly established in Lee County, intl 
there are plenty of opportunities for others to engaii^e in 
the culture of these fruits. There are thousands of acres 
of first class orange lands still to be had along the Caloo- 
sahatchee river and elsewhere in the county, prices vary- 
ing from $10 to f50 per acre, according to quality and lo- 
cation. 



436 
PINEAPPLES. 

The culture of this fruit is being taken up by many 
growers. At Caxamhis Island is located the 200 acre 
pinery of Chas. Ludlow and his son F. B. Ludlow. There 
are now 1,000,000 plants in this field, and the yield thi3 
year amounted to 80 car loads of pineapples. This plan- 
tation is mostly of the common Bed Spanish variety, a 
popular mnj'ket variety, which is grown in the open field. 

Along the ualoosahatchee nver are many pineries where 
the Smooth Cayenne and other fancy varieties are grov/n 
under sheds. The largest growers of these varieties ai-e 
Raymond & Son and Garvey Bros. 

TOWNS AND VILLAGES. 

Lee County as yet cannot boast of any large pities. The 
leading town is Fort Myers. It is the only incorporated 
town in the county. The leading villages and settlements 
are Orange River, Alva, Denaud, Labelle, New Prospect, 
Estero, Punta Rassa, Sanibel, St. James City, Marco, Wul- 
fert, Capliva and Everglade. 

Fort Myers, the county seat, is situated on the Caloosa- 
hatchee river 18 miles from the Gulf. It is a historical 
point, being closely connected with the Seminole Indian 
wars. It was garrisoned by U. S. troops prior to IS-jO, 
and about 1857 this garrison was commanded by Gen. 
Winfield Scott Hancock, then a young officer. The house 
in which he dwelt, and in which his only daughter was 
born, still stands, and is now the home of Mr. H. E. Heit- 
man. one of f)ur leading business men. 

Although Ft. Myers is the southernmost town on Ibo 
mainland of the West Coast of Florida, and has been all 
these years without railroad transportation, it is a pro* 
giressive and up-to-date town, having many modern con* 
venTences often found missing in older settled towni^. 
The town has a population of 1,200, l.OOO whites and 200 
negroes. There are four miles of shell streets, affording 
good, smooth drives and bicycle paths, and shell sidewalks 
are' rapidly being laid on all the principal streets of the 
town. There is a fairly good sewerage system, wliirh i» 
constantly being improved. Cistern water has been de- 
pended on for domeetic purposes, but In the past year 



437 

# 
many artesian wells have been opened up, flowing from 
lOU to 200 gallons per minute, affording an abundant sup- 
ply of pure, fresh water. 

The town has a good electric light plant, ice factory 
and guava canning and jelly manufacturing establishmei^;t 
operated by the Seminole Cannirg Co. Ice is sold for 50 
cents per 100 pounds. There is also a well established 
telephone exchan,e with 75 subscribers, and long distance 
telephone lines now extend to Marco, sixty miles south, 
and Labelle, 30 miles east. Connections are also being 
made with Punta Gorda and Arcadia in DeSoto County, 
and by Oct. 1, 1902, connection will have been made with 
the long distance systems at Tampa. The Western Union 
Telegraph Co. also has an office established here, giving 
telegraphic communication with all points. The post- 
office is now in the third class, and is a domestic and for- 
eign money order office. The Southern Express Co. baa 
an office here. The Citi/ens Bank and Trust Co. of Tam- 
pa established a branch here a couple of years ago, which 
is in a flourishing condition, with Mr. J. E. Toxworthy 
cashier. The Ft. Myers Tress is a first class weekly news- 
paper, and the only paper published in the town. The 
business houses include three first class general merchan- 
dise stores, two well stocked dry goods stores, one up-to- 
date grocery, one gents furnishings and shoe store, two 
hardware stores, one wagon and blacksmith shop, under- 
taker's establishment, lumber yard, butcher shop, bicyde 
shop, two barber shops and a number of small busiucss 
places of one kind and another. 

There is one first class tourist hotel, the Fort Myers 
Hotel, consisting of 100 rooms, whifh is fitted out in first 
class style, and is open only during the tourist season. It 
is a favorite resort for anglers from all parts of the United 
States, and England and Prance, the Caloosahatchee river 
bein^ one of the greatest fishing grounds in the State for 
the gainoy tarpon as well as the scores of sni?ller game 
fish. There are al?o Uv^ small hotels, charging low rate.?, 
open all the year round, besides several boarding houses, 
and restaurants. 

Ft. Myers has been declared one of the most beautiful 
locations in the State. We quote such men as Frof. Thos. 
A. Edison, who owns a beautiful winter home and labora- 
tory in the town. Messrs. Florence and Murphy of Hele- 



^ 438 

na, Mont., Hugh Macdonald, Jr., of Covington, Ky., while 
such well known niftn as the late H. B. Plant, the great 
railroad magnate ; Hugh O'Neill, the great merchant, and 
A. M. McGregor, of the Standard Oil Co., had a high opin- 
ion of its beauties. 

It is chiefly as a village of beautiful homes that the town 
has become noted. While there are many costly resi- 
dences, the gardens are genuine tropical bowers, in which 
hundreds of rare tropical shrubs and flowers are seen 
blooming all the year round, while such rare tropical fruit 
trees as the Avacado pear, sapadillos, mangoes, tamarin<ls, 
cocoanuts, and many other fruits to be found in but fe\r 
places in Florida, flourisli and ripen their fruits. 

Ft. Myers has four churches for whites and two for 
negroes. The leading denomination is the Methodist, 
which has a large couigregation and Sunday School, and 
expects soon to commenco the erection of a new church 
to cost 18.000. The pastor is paid a salary of ?8f)0 jior 
annum. The Methodist Church also has missions estab- 
lished in nearly all the leading villages in the cou'ity. 
The Episropal Church has a pastor who divides his time 
between Ft. Myers aud Punta Gorda. This church also 
has an Indian mission established at Immakalee. The 
Baptist have a good church building, but have not been 
holding regular services. The Catholics have a church 
in which services are held at odd occasions. 

The professions are represented by four lawyers and 
four practising physicians. 

For a new county the public school system is well ad- 
vanced, as compared with other counties in the Stat«. 
The Superintendent of Schools is Dr. J. F. Shands, an able 
scholar. The only high school in the county is at Ft. 
Myers. There are six teachers here whose salaries range 
from |75 to |40 per month. In the county there are 26 
schools, all of which are for whites, with the exception of 
one colored school in Ft. My ere, the colored population of 
the countv amount to but verv few families. Of the above 
schools five are graded. The average salary paid to 
teacheifj is ^',]S per month. The school term is six months, 
the Ft. Myers High School alone having an eight months 
term. The school tax levied for the past year amounted 
to 19,370.43, and the value of school property is ^10,650. 
The total attendance in the schools is 832. 



> 439 

PRINCIPAL VILLAGES IN THE COUNTY. 

On Orange River, a tributary of the Caloosahatcliee 
River, is located one of the most thriving settlements in 
the county. It is nine miles from Ft. Myers, and has a 
good store, postoffi* e, telephone, school house and church. 
Here are clustered some of the finest and most productive 
orange groves to be found in the State, and within one 
mile of the postoffice 30,000 boxes of oranges will be ship- 
ped to market this season. There are also a number of 
pineries of fancy varieties located there. The soil alon^ 
the banks of the river is mostly rich hammock. 

LABELLE AND FT. THOMPSOK 

Ft. Thompson is the head of steamboat navigation on 
the Caloosahatche^ River. Steamers run to that point 
from Ft. Myers three times a week for eight months in 
the year and daily except Sunday from Dec. 1st to April 
1st. This service will soon be made daily throughout the 
year. At Ft. Thompson are rich grazing lands upon 
which is the stock farm of Capt. F. A. Hendry and sons, 
where imy;roved Jerseys and other blooded cows ami 
horses are raised. Labelle City is the center for this sec- 
tion, and has a store, postoffice, church, school, telephone, 
and large bodies of rich lands upon which orange grove* 
are being planted. 

FT. DENAUD. 

This is the next settlement coming down the river. It 
is the center of a good orange growing district. There is 
a good store here, postoffice, saw mill, telephone, school 
and church. There are also some fine pineries near herfe. 
The country from Denaud to Caloosa is beautifully situa- 
ted on the banks of the river, which are about fifteen feet 
high at this point. The wild, tropical scenery has proven 
a revelation to the thousands of tourists who have made 
the trin up the river. The course of the river is very 
crooked, the banks being lined with palmettoes, oaks, 
hickories and many other trees. The pilots on the steam- 
ers have their hands full in piloting their vessels aronnd 
the sharp bends of the river. 



440 

t • 

ALVA. 

This is the most thickly settled port'on of the river 
country, and the center of the orange business on the river, 
there being many large bearirig orange groves and vine- 
ries located here, including the 250 orange antl graiie fruit 
grove of Mr. D. A. G. Florence of Helena, Mont., the larg- 
est grove owned by one individual in the State. There art? 
two good stores here, two schools, two churches, etc. The 
people are progressive and industrious, and new buildings 
are being erected, orange groves set out, and vegetable 
and farm crops continually being planted. Truck grow- 
ing, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, watermelons and other 
crops are grown successfully and the syrup manufactured 
there from the sugar cane is very rich and in great de- 
mand. 

Caloosa is an extension of the Alva section on the west, 
the people here having a postoffice of their own. Some of 
the ri best and finest oran.jre lands on the rivfr are loca- 
ted along here, and for eight or ten miles further down 
the river, including the postoffice settlements of Kialto 
and Olga. 

ESTERO. 

Fifteen miles south of Ft. Myers is the Estero settle- 
ment located on Estero creek, a small stream emptying 
into Estero Bay and the (julf. This section has been 
opened up in the past four or five years, and already is 
taking its place as one of the leading orange cearcrs. The 
groves, however, being mostly young. A few miles south 
of Estero is the Surveyor's Creek settlement, with a ;.ost- 
office named Survey, a store and a large body of firiQ 
orange lands. 

LEE COUNTY'S COAST LINE. 

Lee County has a longer coast line than any other conn- 
ty on the Gulf Coast, covering a distance if about 75 
miles. The northern point is Gasparilla Island, between 
which and LaCosta, the next island south, is the entrance 
to Charlotte Harbor, known as Boca Grande Pass, the 
finest natural harbor on the southern coast of Florida, 
there being 22 feet of water on the bar. The waters of the 



i41 

many bays are alive with mullet, snapper, poinpano, 
fiheepshead, sea trout, grouper, channel bass, and many 
other fine eatable fish. Hundreds of men are eni^a^cd in 
catching fish for market with saines, and several car loads 
of fish are shipped from Punta Gorda daily, the fish be- 
ing packed in ice. 

Kear Boca Grande Pass is the island of Useppa. now 
owned by J. M. Bouch, president of the Chicago Tractiou 
Co., who has erected here a fifty room hotel for tourists 
and fishermen, and a beautiful winter home. 

CAPTIVA AND WULFERT. 

A few miles further south are the settlements of Cap- 
tiva and Wulfert, truck growing being the principal busi- 
ness here. Wulfert is the western end of Ranibel Island, 
and many settlers are moving to these placs to go into 
the truck business. 

SANIBEL ISLAND. 

This island is about 14 miles in length, and from one 
to two miles in width. Its eastern end lies at the m-uitli 
of the Caloosahatchee river. Portions of the island are 
well settled, and there are schools, churrhes, several 
stores, express offices, etc., on the island. In the eastern 
end stands a government light house. Sanibel ships mort? 
early vegetables than any other point on the coast, as 
many as .50,000 crates of tomatoes being sent to market 
in one season. Steamers land at the island daily, run- 
ning between Ft. Myers and Punta Gorda. Across a two 
mile stretch of water, known as Pine Island Sound, is 
Pine Island, running parallel with the main land for 
about thirty miles. Here is the location of St. James 
City, where there is a large tourist hotel, cottages, atore, 
etc. The fishing is very fine here. 

PUNTA RAS8A. 

Punta Rassa is situated on the mainland, at the mouth 
of the Caloosahatchee River. It is a sub-port of entry, 
and quite a shipping point for cattle. Deep water corner 
right up to the shore, making it very convenient to drlFe 



442 

cattle aboard vessels. Thousands of head of cattle have 
been shipped from there to Cuban ports and Key West. 
While there is very little in the way of a viilage at Punta 
Rassa, it has been an important point for 35 years, jls the 
only cable to the island of Cuba up to within a couple of 
years ago, started from this place. Mr. Geo. R. Bhultz, a 
Jerseyman, has been the cable manager here for the past 
34 years, and also conducts a popular fisherman's resort, 
patronized by many well known New Yorkers. Eight 
miles south of Punta Rassa is Estero Island, and twenty 
miles south is 

NAPLES-ON-THE-GULF. 

This is on the mainland, but has an open site on the 
Gulf. It is a winter resort owned by the late Col. W. N. 
Halderman, proprietor of the Louisville Courier-Journal. 
There is a good hotel here, cottngp'', a fine beach and a long 
dock extending out into the Gulf. 

MARCO. 

This island is forty miles south of Punta Rassa. Tt is 
the beginning of the Ten Thousand Islands, lying off the 
coast between there ard Cape Sable. Here is a store, ho- 
tel, ship building yard, cocoanut groves, and all kinds of 
tropical fruits, large pineries, and second only to Sanibel 
for truck raising. 

CHOKOLOSHEE ISLAND. 

This is on the southern line of Lee County. There are 
two postoffices here, one named after the island, and Ever- 
glade. Farming, truck growing and fishing are the prin- 
ciple industries. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

At the present writing Ft. Myers and points between 
are reached by daily steamers from Punta Gorda, the 
southern terminus of the Atlantic Coast Line. (This line 
is now completed and in operation. Editor) A survey 
has just been completed by this company for the extension 
of this line from Punta Gorda to Ft. Myers, and it is pro- 



443 

posed to have the road in operation to Ft. Myers by Jan- 
uary 1, 1903. The Seaboard Air Line is also building to 
Boca Grande, being now as far south as the Manatee rtv-* 
er. Steamers and sail vessels also ply between Ft 
Myers and Punta Rassa and Tampa. 

CLIMATE. 

If there is any one thing more than another that h:i8 
made Lee County a desirable place for settlement, it ia 
its equable climate, there being no extremes of cold or 
warm weather. The highest temperature recorded by the 
government observer here is 94 degrees in the shade. The 
coldst weather was 24 degrees in December, 1894, the time 
of the great freeze. The usual winter temperature i-urely 
goes to the freezing point. The rainy season lasts during 
the months of June, July and August, during whi( Ii 
months there are daily thunder storms of short durat;(>n. 
The winters and spring months are usually dry and pleas- 
ant. 

The principal farm and other products of 1902 were as 
follows : 

Value. 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 9,5G.5 $ 4,8:'.") 

Corn, bushels, 540 aiJO 

Syrup, barrels, 305 n,.3<»0 

Tomatoes, crates, 68,5-55 50,235 

Oranges, boxes, 51,595 50,«')0.5 

Grape fruit, boxes, 1,1.59 5,207 

Pineapples, number, 15,240 3,435 

Live stock on hand in 1902 : 

Horses, number, 365 25,6.35 

Mules, number, 75 0.935 

Stock cattle, number, 12,685 39.155 

Hogs, number, 1,265 2,765 



444 

LEON COUNTY. 

Leon County is bounded on the north by Gadsden 
County, and. the State of Georgia, on the east by Jefl'erson, 
on the south by Jefferson and Wakulla, and on th'i west 
by Gacsden and Liberty counties. 

It has an area of 730 square miles of land surface, '^p 
467,200 acres. 

Its population in 1S90 was 17,752, and in 1000 it waa 
19,887, of which number 3,886 were whites and J 6,001 
were negroes. 

At the close of the school term of 1901 there were in the 
county 71 schools, of which 31 were for whites and 40 
were for negroes. 

Leon County is situated between 30 and 31 degrees 
north latitude and 83 and 84 degrees west longitude. The 
entire west side is bounded by the Oclo(konee rivei*. The 
Bouthern boundary' is about 12 miles, and the northern 
boundary about 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. I'he 
surface gradually rises from the southern to the northern 
Bide, reaching in some plates a height of over 280 feet 
above sea level. About 130,000 acres are in actual culti- 
vation, leavin/; over 300,000 acres available for cultivation 
and settlement, over 100,000 acres of which is improved. 
The surface is uneven and rolling, entirely free from rocks 
and boulders, interspersed throughout with lakes and 
forest. 

Lakes Lafayette, Jackson, lamonia and Miccossukie are 
extensive bodies of water and abound in fish, ai^d during 
the winter offer a fine field for snipe and duck shiJoting. 
The environment of these lakes is varied and beautiful. 
The hills surround them with gently receding curves, with 
bolder bluffs, or terrace rising one above another to the 
height of a hundred feet or more. The timber growths 
are of magnolia, water oak, live oak, hickory and w'ld 
cherry which line the shore, and between, around, and 
over these hang the clematis, woodbine and wild grapo 
and muscadine vines. The general aspect of the ( ountry 
has been further described as beautifully rolling forest 
and field alternating; a genuinely Piedmontese landscape, 
the like of which cannot be found elsewhere in the far 
South. 



445 

SOIL. 

The soil of Leon County greatly differs from that in 
many other portions of the State. It is prin< ipnlly com- 
posed of an alluvium of I'cd and chocolate — colored claye/ 
loams covering a territory of about 200 square miles, and 
piled in a ramblir,g outspread of sweeping hills Mud dales. 
It possesses gi'eat uniformity of texture and lies below the 
surface to an average depth of forty-five feei. Sand ]»re- 
dominates in the component parts, the first foot of top 
soil containing about thirty times as much sand as cla>. 
The soil does not clod or sunbake. An analysis by the 
State Chemist shows that the average soil contains the 
three prime elements of plant food in the foHowing pro- 
portions : One measure of phosphoric acid and three meas- 
ures of niter to each one thousand measures of soil. Soda, 
and magniesia are present in slightly less ])roporti<)ns, 
lime and magnesia are present in slightly less propor- 
tions, with carbonic acid at a rate of one and three quar- 
ters parts in a thousand. To these excellent chemical con- 
ditions may be added equability of temperature, the pro- 
longed period of growth and the regularity and copious- 
ness of rainfall. 

HEALTH IS PARAMOUNT. 

The best evidence of the health of this county is that lo 
public school or business house has ever been closed on ac- 
count of any epidemic. Nor has any town or village ever 
been deserted or quarantined because' of any contagious 
disease, as small-pox or yeMow fever. The diseases which 
spread havoc and desolation in Northern and Western 
parts of the United States are comparatively unknown 
here. The Gulf breeze is the great climatic attraction of 
this section. Morning and evening it springs up from 
the Gulf passing over forest of resinous pines, gathei'ing 
OTione and balsamic qualities in its course, sweeping over 
the hills of I^on County laden with heal+h. 

The mean temperature from April 1st, 1901, toOofober 
Ist, 1901, was 75 degrees. From October 1st, lOOl, to 
April let, 1902, 55 deprecs. 

The rainfall for 1901 was about 64 inches. 

lF*rom Jtine to October the warm season is cohtinwoun, 



440 

but not excessive. The winters are not cold and freezing, 
but nniformlj cool and bracing. The official record 
shows the average for suiumer 75 degrees and for winter 
60 degrees. 

PRODUCTS OF THE SOIL. 

The list of productions is a long and varied one embrac- 
ing nearly all the crops and fruits of the Middle, Northern 
and Southern States. The agricultural resources of the 
county are unlimited. The climate and fertility of the 
Boil give the fanner advantages not possessed in more 
northern latitudes. Something may be planted every day 
in the year. This county is in the center of the rich agri- 
cultural eection of Northern Florida and no district of t!.e 
fiame extent in the State can offer superior inducements to 
cultivators of the soil. AVhether we consider its unexcep- 
tionable climate, the variety, abundance and value of its 
timber, the wonderful fertility of its soil, with its adapta- 
bility to such a vast catalogue of crops, the ease with 
which the soil is cultivated, no iwrtion of the State can 
offer superior inducements to faruiers. 

The «itaple products are cotton, corn, sugar cane, sweet 
potatoes, «oats and tobacco. 

Cotton was once the chief product, but now only about 
8,000 bales are raised. New land will produce about a 
bale to the acre, old land less. When the land is fertilized 
and cultivated according to the improvetl methods two 
bales to the aci-e can be easily raised. The seed are 
readily sold at 20 and 25 cents per bushel to the cotton 
oil factory. The cotton seed meal and refuse hulls are 
extensively used for stock food and fertilizer. 

Com — About 500,000 bushels of corn is raised annually, 
ranging from 12 to 60 bushels per acre. This crop now 
has become very profitable and the surplus readily soiil. 
Planting begins about middle of February and laid by in 
June. 

Sugar Cane — The farmers of this county have long since 
realized the value of this crop. The soil here is peculiarlj 
well adapted for the (^[rowth of cane. Even when crudely 
raised and crudely manufactured, by old and wasteful 
methods, Florida sugai* and syrup rivals in color, grain 
and quality, the best Louisiana production; Syrup wJdIe 



44Y 

hot if bottled or canned and sealed will preserve its new- 
flavor a long period and when used tastes as if just 
brought from the mill. Syrup put up this way finds a 
ready sale and brings from 60 to SO cents per gallon. 
Tbis crop is planted in February and made up in Octf> 
ber and November. The average yield is about .'>00 gal- 
lons to the acre, but under proper conditions and manage- 
ment, will produce COO gallons. The acreage planted i» 
small. About 5,000 barrels of syrup and 10,000 ponndM 
of sugar is the usual crop. There is a fine oi^ening here 
for a large sugar plant. 

Sweet Potatoes — Nearly 200,000 bushels are raised an- 
nually. The yield is all the way from 100 to 400 bush- 
els to the acre. The slips are planted from June to Au- 
gust, and early potatoes can be had the latter part of 
July. This is an all-round food, can be used for man and 
beast, and should be next to corn the chief food crop. 

Tobacco — The modern culture of tobacco has brought 
it to the front as a valuable and paying crop. This will 
soon become one of the most profitable industries of the 
county, returning large revenues to the farmer. The fa- 
mous "Vuelto Abajo" seed seems to be the best for plant- 
ing. The Sumatra tobacco raised from the ^jenulne Suma- 
tra seed under shade is equal to the foreign produ. r. The 
success which has attended the efforts of tobacco growers 
has proven beyond all doubt that the soil and climate of 
this county possess all the requisites for successful tobac- 
oo culture. Besides the tobacco grown for wrappers and 
fillers, a very good quality of tobacco equalling any pro- 
duced in Virginia or the Carolinas, can be g^wn for plug 
wrappers, also for cigarette and pipe use. The seed cjiti 
be sown for plants the same as celery seed or any fine 
flower seed. The usual method is to sow on land where 
trash and wood has been burned to ashes. 

The settings are planted out in April and May. Pruning 
and cutting begin in July, 

The yield is from 800 to 1,000 pounds to the acre. It 
Bells from 20 to 40 cents a pound. Fancy tobacco brings 
higher prices. 

Oats — This crop is planted in October and February, 
and when properly planted yields from 25 to 35 bushels 
per acre. Oats raised in Leon County, are in large de-. 



44^ 

mand for seed and this crop is becoming very valuable 
and profitable. 

Peanuts — This crop is largely under-estimated as a 
food crop. The yield is about 30 bushels to the acr:i and 
the nut readily sells at one dollar a bushel, while the vine 
is valuable as forage and can be easily kept. 

Cowpeas — These are always in demand. The yield is 
about 15 to 20 bushels per acre. The vine cured is a .iue 
winter fodder. 

STOCK RAISING AND DAIRYING. 

The natural pasturage of Leon County makes it possi- 
ble to extensively enlaiige this industry with the addition 
Of some cultivated pastures. The equable cliniate, the 
abundance of water and forage greatly reduce the labor 
attached to this work in other districts. 

The four annual grasses, the crab grass, crow foot jrrass, 
barn grass and water grass, furnish the principal hav sup- 
plies. These seed themselves coming up in abundanci* 
when the land is stirred. Besides these the BcT-nnula. 
Sedge and Smut grasses are perennial, and chemical 
analysis shows them to be rich in nutritive qualities. 

The desmodimn, known as the beggar weed, grows rank 
and luxuriant after the corn crop is laid by in June. This 
weed fully equals clover in its nutritious elements and 
stock r prefer it green or dry to any other forage. This 
weed can be cured and baled in the same way as other 
hays. All of these grasses with sorghum cane, cattail 
millet, German millet, cowpeas, cloct beans, turnips, car- 
rots, with field corn planted for ensilage, furnish an inex- 
haustible supply of forase for stock of all kinds. 

As good water, an abundance of reliable pasture, mild 
climate and freedom from cattle diseases form the ])rin<n- 
pal requisites for successful stock raising and dairyiutg, 
the above stated facts places Leon County in the front in 
this Ifield of work. 

Horses, cows, hogs, sheep and goats and beef cattle are 
raised here to some extent, yet this industry is in its in- 
fancy and all the labor and money invested in this occu- 
pation will richly repay the investor. 

The Jjcon County horse is noted for hi» hardiness, 
health arid "bottom." Good beef is a rarity in thrj sco- 



441) 

tion, because the steck sold here is fed on wire grass and 
hence very touj^h — while beef cattle fattened on Loon 
county pasturage is tender and palatable. There is a 
wide and profitable field here for enterprising people who 
are interested in stock rait-ing. 

Since the introdncton of centrifugal separators and 
methods of dair.-ing, more scientific and convenient than 
the old methods, dairying will soon r.nik as one of the 
chief industries of the county. The Jei'scy siock seem 
best adapted to this county for dairy purposes. Other 
breeds also do well. Cross breeding, with Hereford. 
Short Horn and Devon stock, has proved very successful 
and the cattle cif this county has already gained a reputa- 
tion for superiority. There has been a steady demand for 
milch cows raised in Leon and these cows always bring 
fair prices. The butter frcm Leon county has won a name 
for excellency abroad and large quantities have been 
shipped at profitable prices. There are several fine dairies 
already established here and good butter readily retails 
from 25 to 30 cents a pound. Cheese has been made here, 
and it is said that this branch of dairying is more ])rofita- 
ble than butter making. Large quantities of milk are 
sold in the city, giving steady employment to 4 or 5 railk 
wagons. 

The money value of dairy stock and products is over 
|160,00(). And of farm stock, hogs and sheep, over 
1192,000. 

There is a wide field here for the improvement and ex* 
tension of this industry, and no other section of the State 
can offer better inducements to the dairyman and stock 
raiser than this. 

TIMBER. 

The forest growth of this county embraces live oak, red 
oak. water oak, white oak, hickory, walnut, cherry, niag- 
nolia, sweet gum, pine and other trees. The pine furn- 
ishes an abundance of lumber and the lumber mill indus- 
try is very ])rotablp. Lumber for all building purposes is 
plentiful. The oak, hickory, walnut, dog wood, cherry 
and other hard woods offer the best inducements possible 
for erecting an extensive hnrd wood factory. A factory 
of this kind could easily work up ax handles, broom han- 

29 H F 



45U 

dies, wheelwright material and hardware of various kiuds. 
The china berry flourishes here and is of very fast growili 
and coulf'ft be utilized for furniture and no doubt uaod for 
lead pencil covers. 

The pecan, hickory and walnut are not only useful for 
the wood they furnish, but also for the nuts. These trees 
grow rapidly here and fruit heavily. The heavy growth 
of trees indicate the nature of the sail, and these trees, 
like all other bounteous supplies, are not apprecialci as 
they should be. In addition to this forest growth there 
is some cypress and black gum which can be easily reached 
and utilized. A hard wood factory would be a paying 
investment in this county. Pecans sell readily for .?.i.(»0 
per bushel. The trees begin to bear in about six years. A 
pecan grove is a more certain paying investment than an 
orange grove. 

VEGETABLES. 

All varieties of vegetables can be grown and trucking 
for the home market and for shipping can be made a 
source of immense profit. The spring garden incluilt?s 
garden peas, celery, lettuce, Irish potatoes, beets, cab- 
bage and cauliflower, followed by tomatoes, onions, benns 
of all varieties, early corn, okra, melons, cantaloupes, 
and egg-plant. The fall garden, beginning about Septem- 
ber, beets, lettuce, turnips, cabbage and garden peas are 
planted. Two crops of Irish potatoes can be grown 
through the year. Some kinds of vegetables can be grown 
throughout the entire year. Squash, cucumber, pumpkin 
and kershaw grow here in abundance. This is the native 
home of the strawberry. They are very easily cultivated. 
Planted in September they yield a crop in April and a 
heavier crop the next year. The yield is enormous and 
the crop valuable. The blackberry and dewberry gr«tw 
wild and bear abundantly. They make fine preserve»». 
Watermelons and cantaloupes are easily raised and quan- 
tities are sold every year at the home market. Straw- 
berry and melon culture can be made very profitablp. 
What is needed here to make truck farming a source of 
Fast revenue is a first class canning factory. Vegetables 
of all kinds grow so abundantly that the surplus left 
from shipping would furnish sufficient material to ran a 
large cannin^g factory. 



451 
FRUITS. 

While this is not a fruit country equal to some other 
sections of the United States, yet all fruit trees flourish 
and grow to large proportions here. The grape culture i» 
an established success in this county. The Catawba, 
Concord, Scuppernong and other varieties, grow vigor- 
ously and fruit well. The San Louis vineyards near 
Tallahassee annually yield large quantities of grapes and 
many thousand gallons of wine are pressed. 

The fig fruits heavily and figs properly preserved sell 
for 75 cents a quart jar. The pomegranate, a large and 
beautiful fruit, very refreshing to the taste, thrive here 
and could be made a source of profit. The wild persimmon 
ripens about November. The tree grows quite large. The 
Japan persimmon can be cultivated and yields sufficiently 
well to make their culture profitable. The wild plum 
which flourishes here makes a very fiue preserve. The 
cultivated varieties flourish and fruit well. The Japan 
plum makes a large ornamental tree and bears a fine sub- 
acid fruit very pleasant to the taste. The LeConte pe-ar 
does well and quite large quantities are shipped. The 
peach, apple and quince trees grow to large proportions 
here, but the fruitage is not always sound, which can be 
universally ascribed to a lack of proper attention and 
cultivation. Where given the proper care and manage- 
ment, no section of counti*y produces finer or more abun- 
dant crops of peaches than this. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

The facilities, for traTisportation have been increased 
in the last few years. Ths county is in close touch with 
East, South, and West Florida, with the Oulf. with the 
Western and Northwestern States and with the North 
and the entire Atlantic seaboard. 

The Seaboard Air Line ramifies East, North and South, 
•nd West, connecting with other lines. The Carrabelb, 
Tallahassee and Georgia Railroad and St. Marks Railroo«! 
I^ves an outlet to the Onlf. The Genrcia. Florif'a nnd 
Alabama Railroad connects North throngh Bainbridj^ 
iRrith the western, northwestern a^d northern market-*. 
These lines of road make it possible to get the benefit of 



452 

cheap and rapid travel and shipping. The prospect for 
this county to enlarge and improve all departments of 
indUvStry i& brighter now than ever before. 

GOVERNMENT AND TAXATION. 

The population of the county numbers 3,886 white 
and 16,001 colored. The white citizens are noted for 
their sociable qualities^ hospitality and energy. The n-r»- 
gro is quiet, law-abiding and industrious. 

The assessed value of real property for 1902 is f 1,547,- 
200, for personal, |730,40(). The county levies 5 mills 
tax for school purposes and appropriates the poll tax to 
this cause. A county levy of 7 mills is made this year 
for county revenue, S mills less than last year. The 
county is in a i>ood financial condition. 

The county and city of Tallahassee are both under 
good police surveillance and life and property are safe 
and secure throughout the entire county. . 

Land varies in price according to quality and location. 
Good fanns of 160 acres can be bought, built and stocked 
entire and complete all the way from $1,400 up. 

INVITATION. 

The county needs men with brains and Willing hands^ 
h<ime makers and permanent settlers, and to people of 
this kind, I^eon County offers a home in an equable clime, 
where with a few dollars of invested capital they can 
live in plenty and comfort the year round; where with 
energy and vim they can soon accumulate a surplus and 
where they will have health, good society, ample church 
and school advantages and all the political privileges 
they may enjoy in any other country. 

The agricultural and other farm products for 1902 
were as follows: 

Value. 

Upland cotton, bales, 6,312 .$239,727 

Corn, bushels, 268,830 158,07iJ 

Oats, bushels, 27,619 17.538 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 112,650. ....... .' 54,735 

Hay, tons, 1,891 T. 25,842 

Peanuts, bushels, 15,226 ."..'. 11,574 



453 

Syrup, barrels, 3,632 30,078 

Irish potatoes, bushels, 9,000 9,000 

Cabbage, crates, 4,000 6,000 

Tomatoes, crates, 6,000 6,000 

Pears, barrels, 2,822 4,.~35 

Peachps, bushels, 1,818 1,96J 

Live stock on hand for 1902 : 

Horses, number, 2,085 157,731 

Mules, number, 830 80,930 

Stock cattle, number, 6,158 46,562 

Milch cows, number, 4,280 68.113 

Hogs, number, 15,899 ^ 13,174 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 51,792 15,851 

Dairy Products : 

Milk sold, gallons, 473,292 67,124 

Butter, pounds, 115,748 30,2«;2 

TALLAHASSEE, THE STATE CAPITOL. 

The site upon v/hich Tallahassee, the present seat of 
the State Governm.ent stands, wart agreed upon as the 
best situntton for ^be State Capitol by the Commissioners. 
John L. Williams and W. H. Simmons, in October, 1823; 
it was formally selected as the capjtol in 1824, and on 
May 24th, 1824 an act was passed by Congress providinjf 
for a grant of land for the permanent seat of Government, 
which point was to be the basis for all surveying opera- 
tions in the Slate, and to be fixed as the point from which 
the princi]);il meridian and paralel should run. 

The city is located upon a hill of some 300 feet above 
sea level, which slopes in all directions, giving beautiful 
views of the surrounding country, and furnishing excel- 
lent natural drainage. 

The Capitol building occupies a square on a portion of 
the land granted for the site, which is in the southern 
section of the city; the building has been remodeled and 
enlariged within the last two years at a cost of |!75,000.0l» 
and is now quite a commodius and imposing structure of 
Grecian style of architecture, the type of architecture 
being retained in the rebuilding. 

The situation of the city is an admirable one from the 
©tandpoint of health, being so much above sea level that 



454 

it is free from all epidemics of contagious diseases; it is 
also surrounded by a country justly tamed for its beauty 
topographically and great fertility of soil; the surround- 
ing country is high, and gently undulating, yet with nu- 
merous lofty hills from which lovely views are obtained; 
the soil is of mixed clay and sandy loam and the t.mber 
growth principally of oak, hickory, walnut, magnolia, 
live oak and pine; the roadways are firm and kept in good 
condition, making driving a source of health and pleasure 
to those who enjoy the sunshine of life, or delight to in- 
hale the balmy air fresh from over the tropic waters of 
the Mexican sea. 

Tallahassee is a thriving town of nearly 5,000 peoi)io, 
and resembles most Southern towns in that its residences 
occupy as a rule spacious plats or gardens, with pjenty 
of distance between, with wide and well shaded stieeta, 
and necessarily covers a considerable area. All sorts ami 
varieties of flowers and shrubs abound, and it is particu- 
larly noted for the great variety and profuseness or its 
magnificent roses. 

For a number of years after the close of the Civil War 
the city prospered little owing to the severe reverses of 
the property owning people consequent upon that period; 
but in recent years, with the advent of greater and bet- 
ter transportation facilities in the way of new railroads, 
the improvement and increase in the building of resi- 
dences, hotels and business houses, and the establishment 
of new industrial enterprises of various kinds, the city 
bas grown, and continues to grow at a correspondingly 
increased ratio with each year. The volume of business 
reaches to near two and a half million dollars per annum. 
As a showing for the source of this business this city is a 
distributing point of considerable importane in the way 
of lumber, merchandise for interior villages, and supplies 
for the rjivii! '•t<)ref^ manufacturers and a center of <rade 
for a large and prosperous farming country. The city is 
the terminus of three railroads and is also on the Sea- 
board Air Lire, about midway between Jacksonville and 
Pensacola. The corporate limits cover ovor thirty miles 
of measured streets. Tallahassee has within the corpo- 
ration, or immediately adjoiring. four railroads, three 
machine shops, two large and well equipped saw and 
planing mills, two modern ice factories, one cotton seed 



455 

oil mill of large capacity, one cotton compress and two 
cotton warehouses, one gas plant and one electric light 
and power plant, the latter the property of the city, one 
cigar factory of large capacity and one not so large, but 
both of which do a tlourishirig business, and one moss fac- 
tory which prepares the gray moss for mattress making. 
The city is supplied with water from artesian wells from 
a depth <Jf TOO feet; there are numerous industries not 
mentioned above that afford profitable employment for 
many people. 

There are two large and well appointed hotels, and a 
number of smaller ones, all well kept. There are two 
banks with ample capital, both of which transact a large 
and profitable business; there are two newspaper plants, 
one a daily and one wekly; one comfortable oi)era house 
of large seating capacity, and an eificient fire department, 
well equipped with the latest modern appliances for com- 
bating the fiery element. Religious denominations are 
represented in the Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal, 
Baptist and Eoman Catholic churches. 

There is also an elegant public library, supported by 
public subscription, which contains about 10,000 volume«, 
including works upon all branches of literature, science, 
art and fi ti(in. ]ts use is open to all for a mode rare 
monthly fee. 

Tallahassee is the seat of a number of good schoola, 
chief of which is the Florida State College, the highest 
institution of learning in the State. Its curriculum em- 
braces the higher branches as taught by the most ad- 
vanced colleges of the country. There is a preparatory 
department and a first and second high school in which 
pupils are fitted for the college courses. The college of^ 
fers to students the choice of three courses, classical, I't- 
erary, and scientific — each extending through four aca- 
demic years and leading to the degree* of B. A,, B. L., and 
B. Sc. The students number about 300 of all grades and 
represent nearly very county in the State, besides theie 
are students representing quite a number of other states. 
The facilities afforded by the institution for the acquiro- 
mf^^i of kr^owled^e on behalf of the students are not ex- 
celled in the South. In addition to the Florida State 
College there is also a common school known as the Coun- 
ty High School, numbering some 300 students, where all 



453 

the branches usually included in common schools are 
taught bv a corps of excellent teachers. There are also 
numerous private preparatory schools, so that there is lit- 
erally no excuse or reason for any child losing the benfita 
of education, at least to the extent of his ability to absorb 
knowledge. 

There is also a State Normal and Industrial School for 
colored people, maintained jointly by the United States 
Government and State appropriation, and it is well di- 
rected and attended by near 200 students; there is also 
a common sdiooi f(;r colored children with an attendance 
of about 200 pupils. 

Formally the population of Tallahassee was rather ex- 
clusive in its ( haracter, but in recent years with the 
breaking ii]» of old ayfjociations and the passing of old 
ideals, the influx of new people from new lands have 
changed it into quite a cosmopolitan town; yet through 
all the vit i^itudes and changes that have come about, one 
of the greatest characteristics cf the old order of things* 
still remains a dominant feature with the people, who, 
always noted for their generous hospitality in the past, 
still clings to that noble trait, and welcomes with a 
henrty i^ood v/ill all tho"^e who come with good intent, 
whether it be in quest of health or pleasure, or to build a 
home in this favored section. 



LEVY COUNTy. 

Tjevy County ivS bounded on the north by Alachua, on 
the east by Alachua and Marion, on ths south by Marion 
and Citrus counties and the Gulf of Mexico, and on the 
west by the Gulf of Mexico and LaFayette county. 

It has an area of 1,1.33 square miles of land surface, or 
725,120 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 6,586, and in 1900, it waa 
8,603, of which number 5,321 were white and 3,282, were 
negroes. 

At the close of the school term of 1901, there were in 
the county 44 schools, of which 33 were for whites and 
11 were for negroes. 



457 

• 
Bronson, the County Seat, is eituated in the north- 
eastern portion of the county on the S. A. L. R. R., and 
ie a thriving town. It is in the midst of a fine farming 
section of coiintiy, with a prosperous, progressive and 
enlightened population. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES. 

Beginning in the western part, along the Suwannee 
River, the lands are mixed hammock and pine; most of 
it is very fine land. 

Several large, clear springs break cut along the river, 
notably the Fort Fannin and Manatee springs, either of 
which support a goodly sized river, which add much to its 
beauty and attractiveness. From the Suwannee to the 
Wacasassa it is a high, rolling, fine (Oiintry, very fertile 
and supporting quite a population of happy, contented 
people. These lands are underlaid with limestone, clay, 
and marl. About the center ol the ridge iron is found in 
abundance and tf the finest quality. The ore is a brown 
hematite, very ductile and a-ssays 75 to 85 per cent. This 
ore crops out all through the county, covering an area 
of four to ten miles:. The Wacasassa valley is v^"t is 
termed a "fiat-woods" country, the land, however, that 
is high enough for cultivation, is very productive. Along 
this river are large beds of gypsum, marl, and phosphate. 
East of the Waeasassa valley is a scope of high, rolling, 
fine country that is rather below the average of the coun- 
ty in fertijity, but probably the healthiest Dart of the 
State. 

On the eastern side of the county is the Williston and 
Ftafiord's Pond valley, that is the most thrifty agricul- 
tural part of the county. Thousands of crates of vegeta- 
bles ai-e annually shipped from this section, the nroduct 
beino: nrononnced an^ong the finest that goes tn Tvortbfrn 
markets. This is a high pine country, rich lands under- 
laid with limestone, marl and clay, and altogether one 
of the best sections in the State. 

In the southern part of the county lies the famous 
Gulf Hammock, extending for thirty miles along the 
Gulf coast, by eisht to ten miles wide. This is the largest 
body of dense hardwood lands in the peninsular part of 



, 458 

r 

the State. It contains all the hardwoods peculiar ta 
Florida, and still considerable growth of red cedar, 
abounds in game, such as bear, deer, turkeys, squirrels, 
etc., with an occasional panther. This is truly the gports- 
nian's paradise. Game and fish abound in inexhaustible 
quantities. The soil is very rich and yields generously to 
the husbandman. 

TIMBER. 

In variety and abundance of timber Levy county excels 
many other sectjoiis of tlie fcitate. the yellow pine fort-sts 
are, as yet, practically untouched; the immense tracts of 
cypress await the advent of enterprising lumbermen; her 
hc.rdwoods, in variety and abundance, are the wonder 
and envy of other sections; her forests of red cedar once 
supplied the bulk of pencil material for the civilized 
world, and are fortunes still to the present owners. 

The finest bodies of cypress to be found in the State 
are in this county. The timber is the best, clearest of 
blemishes, and in the most compact bodies of any in the 
eoatheastern States; isome parts of the swamps running 
by actual estimate and measurement as high as 120,{)0l> 
feet per acre. With the exception of some forests of red 
woods on the slope of the Rockies, no other part of the 
Union can probably show such growths of timber to the 
acre. Red cedar is still found in the coast and hammock 
sections of the county. It is of rapid growth, and can 
be cut every four or five years and yield a good output. 
It is one ol the most valuable of woods, grows here readi- 
ly. Hard woods of every variety abound in the hammocks, 
including white, live, red, and water oaks, hickory, mag- 
nolia, gum, beech, birch, wahoo, ash, poplar, etc. The 
great Gulf Hammock furnishes an abundance of all these 
varieties, as well as others, and awaits the advent of the 
pioneer manufacturer to yield up its rich treasures at 
hij bidding. 

The soil is varied: some a light, sandy loam, rather 
poor; others a rich dark loam, and very productive. The 
h?.mraocks are generally a heavy, red soil and exceeding- 
ly fertile. There is considerable peat lands that can be 
easily drained, that is valuable for growing sugar cane. 
These lands can be bought at reasonable prices. 



459 

PEACHES. 

Peaches are grown largely, and large areas are annually 
Bet. This county is designated by successful growers as 
the "home of the peach." The fruit begins to mature May 
lot, and extends clear through the season; some of our 
leading growers having peaches mature every month from 
May to October, 

It is noticed that some amateur writers say the peach 
is shortlived in Florida. Let them come and see. There 
are numbers of "native" trees in this county from fifteen 
tc thirty-five years old that bear heavy crops of the most 
delicious peaches every year. 

The peculiar condition of the soil render it especially 
adapted to peaches. Considerable area is heavily charged 
with iron and lime; and this is the best soil for the 
growth of the peach, yet they do remarkably well on the 
black, limestone soil and on the "sand hills." As fine an 
orchard as is in the State grows on a Levv county "sand 
hill." 

PLUMS. 



Plums grow to perfection. The natives of various 
kinds flourish all over the country, growing in the culti- 
vated farms, in the by-ways and in the hammocks, pro- 
ducing a fruit that is quite palatable, as well as furnish- 
ing a large food supply for Logs and other stock. Im- 
proved varieties are being introduced, principally im- 
portations from Japan, and they do equally as well as the 
natives, and are a much finer fruit. Some of the varie- 
ties grow much larger than the ordinary peach, are finely 
flavored, pit much smaller than the common plum, and 
with good keeping qualities. Specimens gathered when 
just in condition for shipping, have been known to keep 
perfectly sound for sixty days. No one should own a 
place without planting largely of both plums and peaches, 
not only for home consumption, but for the market as 
well. 



4G0 

STEAWBERRIES. 

Strawberries are grown in considerable quantities, 
though this industry has not received the attention it dfc- 
serves. It is a very profitable crop, and tnousands of 
acres of land in the county contiguous to transportation 
are well adapted to the growth of this crop. It has been 
grown on a sufficient scale to show that it is very profita- 
ble. 

FARM AND VEGETABLE CROPS. 

The advantage that Levy county claims over eome 
other parts, is that while the Citrus family do so well, 
ai^d other varieties of fruit grow to perfection, the soil 
is sufficiently good to enable one to realize a living from 
the farm while waiting for the grove to come into bear- 
ing. By planting the regular farm crops, or growing 
vegetables, one is enabled to live from the soil instead 
o exhausting outside capital to bring the grove, of any 
kind of fruit, to maturity. 

CORN 

does well, the average yield on pine land being twelve to 
fifteen bushels per acre ; on the hammocks, thirtv to sixty 
bushels per acre are frequsntly grown — this without any 
fertilization. This will bring, on the farm, from seventy- 
five cents to fl per bushel. When intelligent culture is 
applied, and the crop judiciously fertilized, the yield can 
be easily doubled. The county raises sufficient corn for 
home consumption. 

VEGETABLES 

are grown on an extensive scale and are very profitable. 
Cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, beans, peas and Irish 
potatoes, being the principal products. When seasons are 
fair, our farmers make large money on vegetables; occa- 
sionally a dry season prevents the crop from being so 
remunerative. But those seldom come. 

There are shipped annually, from this county thon- 
sands of urates of vegetables. Some farmers in this lin». 



461 

bj industry and skill, are growing rich, while others are 
failures. Our successtul growers plant both for the 
early and late market, their products reaching the North- 
ern markets before the frosts have melted in the spring 
and after the snows have fallen in the fall. Vegetables 
can be grown the year round, and the climate is such 
that the laborer can work outdoors comfortably every 
month in the year. This is an item that should be noted 
by our Xorihern friends who are shut up in snow-drifts 
for nearly half the year. 

SWEET rOTATOES. 

This is the crop of the county, useful alike for man and 
beast. It is only necessary to turn under the sod on our 
good grade pine lauds in the fall, list up in the spring 
season and set the potatoes to insure a good crop of this 
fitaple product. * The yield run... from 150 bushels on poor 
soil to 4UU bushels per acre on land that is well fertilized. 
The price ranges from forty to tifty cents per bushel, and 
are in good demand always. One can see at a glance how 
profitable a cixDp this is. The crop is used extensively 
for table use, and for feed for hogs, horses and cattle. It 
is considered to be the best hog feed grown, and meat can 
be raised as cheaply here on potatoes as on corn in the 
West. 

PEANUTS 

are a good crop and grown largely. For stock feed they 
are unsurpassed. They are utilized as hay and as hog 
feed. The yield runs from forty to 100 bushels per acrfc. 

COW PEAS. 

This is the hay crop, par excellence, of Florida. Good 
pine lands will yield from two to four tons of hay per 
acre. Two crops per year can be grown from the same 
land. The hay will sell readily at |20 per ton. When 
the peas are gathered, the yield is fifteen to forty bushel* 
per acre. 



4«2 

OATS 

arc grown on a large scale — every farmer putting in hit 
few acres each season — some planting quite largely. The 
yield is 20 to 40 bushels per acre. 

COTTON. 

We grow as fine, if not the finest, Sea Island Cotton 
that is grown in the world. Our soil and climate seems 
peculiarly adapted to this variety even as much so as the 
Islands of Carolina and Georgia, . The fibre of this cot- 
ton is exceedingly fine and is sought after by cotton buy- 
ers for the manufacture of thread or spool cotton. .The 
average yield on the farming lands in this county un- 
fertilized is three (3) to four (4) hundred pounds seed 
cotton ; but the yield is, and can be gi*eatly increased, by 
fertilizing to twice and sometimes three times as mucn 
per acre. 

STOCK-RAISING. 

This is one of the principal industries of Levy County. 
There are thousands of cattle grazing today on the 
prairies and open lands in the county. Cattle are not 
the only stock that is raised in this way; horses, sheep 
and other stock do equally well grazing on the open lands. 
Many horses are raised annually here which are never 
fed until taken up to work. Nearly every one has « 
small number of cattle, or some stock, feeding on the 
wild pastures. These do well, and grow to a large size, 
aad our winters are so mild that the pastures remain 
fresh and green and stock of all kinds kept fat the year 
round, without any assistance at all from the owners, 
only by the grazing from the unfenced lands. Our beef is 
good, but not such as the stall fed beef of the North and 
West, but is far above the average — being fat, nice and 
sweet at any time of the year, and all from the natural 
pasturage. The yield of beef cattle brings thousands 
of dollars into our county annually for a very small oot- 
lay, as does the other stock so raised. There have beea^ 
in a few years past, a few fine-bred cattle and hons^ 
l>rought in to raise from, all of which do well with very 



4G3 

little feeding, and, with the proper attention, fine stocic 
could be raised here with an equal profit that it can be 
done anywhere. 

HUNTING AND FISHING. 

Quail and small game are to be found in almost any 
place. In the vast area of this hammock are to be found 
bear, deer, turkey, etc., in abundance. The lakes, creeks 
and rivers which are scattered over the county abound iu 
the choicest varieties of fresh-water fish, which are daily 
ccught with rod and line. The rivers and gulf, teeming 
with fish, contribute largely to the food products of the 
county. 

At Cedar Key thousands of dollars worth of fish and 
oyaters are shipped annually. The oyster business is re- 
c iving considerable attention, and oyster-farming is 
quite popular. The coast of Levy County is unsurpassed 
for the production of the oyster, and offers an inviting 
field to capitalists and others in this direction. But little 
capital is required in this business, and the returns are 
sure and quick. The oysters grown at the mouth of the 
Suwannee, Wacasassa and Withlacoochee rivers, and 
around Cedar Key, are the finest on the Peninsular cc^-ist, 
and are equal to any to be found south of Baltimore. 
They are without a rival in the markets of Florida and 
adjoining States. 

HEALTH. 

We feel confident we can say, without any denial, that 
we have as healthy a country as will be found anywhere. 
There is little or no sickness, as compared with the vast 
area and population. There has not been any system of 
vital statistics until the past few months, and hence they 
will not be given, as they have not been for a long enough 
time to give any definite idea of the health of our county. 
The idea is often prevalent that if you come to Florida 
you will have to go away to spend your Summers or you 
will die. This is totally erroneous, as there !s only a very 
small per cent, of ottr population who spend their sura- 
men away, and those who remain enjoy equally good 
health. We do not claim there is never a case of sick- 



4G4 

ness, nor that people never die here, but we do claim that 
we enjoy equany as good healih as any country. During 
the years when our State was afflicted with an epidemic 
of yellow fever there was not a case in our county, al- 
though many refugees came here from infected places. 
We Jjave all the requisites for good health, lying, as we 
do, along the Grulf Coast, where we get the pure salt air 
aLd an equable climate and excellent water. The heat is 
less oppressive here in Summer than in any of the States 
of the Northwest. While the thernionieter may run a« 
high here as there, the heat is always tempered with a 
cooling breeze from the Gulf. We have none of the elosts, 
Bultry weather so prevalent in Summer further North. 

CHURCHES. 

Churches are numerous over the county, both in towns 
and country, of various denominations, and all of them 
are well attended and supported. Our people are quiet, 
peaceable, soher, God-fearing people. There are but few 
points in the county that an immigrant could go to but 
what he could find the church of his choice. All the prin- 
cipal denominations are represented. 

SOCIETY. 

We have as good society here as will be found. All are 
on an equal footing who are quiet, sober, genteel, anfl 
industrious. One of the most notable and gratifying 
characteristics of the people of Levy county is their sobri- 
ety. There is nothing which should recommend them 
more to public favor than this. It is the evidence of vir- 
tuous citizenship and individual moralityj It conveys 
the idea of the absence of strife and discord, which is the 
result of the beneficient influences that are operative. We 
do not say there is never any strife or discord among our 
citizens, but we do say we are free from it, comparatively 
(speaking, for we enjoy the peace and quiet which attend 
a religions, moral, and sober people. 



465 

SELECTING A HOME. 

In the foregoing we have tried to give the intending 
settler a fair idea of our county, its <;liinate and resources. 
Men are succeeding here, and there is plenty of room lor 
others to come and do well. But in selecting a home let 
them look well to it before locating. It is better to select 
a good jtiece of land, and, if means are limited, purchase 
only a few acres, and build a home on it. Many make a 
mistake by investing their all in land, securing a larige 
tract, and having no means left to develop it. Strangers 
will find it to tlieir interest, also, to only deal with re- 
liable men in buying property, and consulting the best 
farmers of the neighborhood as to the adaptability of the 
land for the purpose he wishes to put it to. By carefully 
selecting your land., working intelligently and industri- 
ously, thei-e is no question of your success here. Our pop- 
ulation is made up from all parts of the country, and all 
are on equal footing. A cordial welcome will be given 
every immigrant that comes among us, whatever part 
of the county he may choose to settle in. Only a man*s 
moral worth is considered by our people. Political opin- 
ion is as free here as in any part of the Union. "We invita 
worthy men from any and all quarters to come and live 
with us and aid us in the developing of our county. 

TEANSrORTATION FACILITIES. 

The county has fine water transportation on three 
sides, the Suwannee River on the west, the Gulf of Mex- 
ico also on the westward south, and the Withlacoochee 
river on the south ; also the Seaboard Air Line extends 
entirely across the county, centrally, from northeast to 
southwest. Transportation facilities for all commerce 
and travel are ample. 

The principal agricultural and other products of 1902, 
were as follows: 

Value 

Sea Island cotton, bales, 562 $35,649 

Corn, bushels, 72,506 60.505 

Oats, bushels, 40,108 29,115 

iSweet Potatoes, bushels, 37,057 16,174 

30 H P 



466 

Pea nuts, bushels, 42,128 40,855 

Syrup, barrels, 697 8,303 

Cucumbers, crates, 22,860 ]5,i)42 

Peaches, bushels, 5,474 4,376 

Live stock on hand: 

Hors&s,nuinber, 1,286 72,335 

Mules, number, 352 45,525 

Stock cattle, number, 13,441 88,l)l>4 

Hogs, number, 13,741 16.278 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 43,472 15,021 



LIBIRT/ COUNTY. 

This county is bounded on the north by Gadsden and 
Wakulla, on the east by Gadsden, Leon and Wakulla, on 
the Bouth by Franklin, and on the west by Calhoun 
County. 

Its area in square miles of land surface is 725, or 
464,000 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 1,452 and in 1900 it was 
2,956, of which number 1,459 were white and 1,497 were 
negroes. 

At the close of the school term of 1901 there were in the 
county 17 schools, of which 13 were for whites and 4 were 
for negroes. 

Liberty County is situated on the eastern side of the 
Apalachicola river, seijarated from the Gulf by Franklin 
County, of which Apalai hicbla is the port for both coun- 
ties. Besides other numerous streams along the whole of 
the west border is the great river Apalachicola, giving 
connection with Columbus. Ga., Eufaula, Ala., and sev- 
eral hundred miles of navigation in the three states, us 
they are called. 

Bristol, the county seat, is on a bluff a short half mile 
from the river. Its population is about 400 as the last 
census demonstrates, but as the people with a commenda- 
ble fondness for rural affairs bave built their houses on 
'Mots" usually from two to twenty acres in extent, but few 
•f the houses show from any one point. It would be well 
tf more towns (where land is cheap) were laid out on thi« 



467 

scale. Good hotel accommodations are to be had and the 
postoflfice facilities are good. Ihe timber surrounding 
the town is typical of that throughout the county, edpee- 
ially where in the vicinity of water. We have the 
noted live oak, «i%gnolia, many, and some of large size, 
ash, cypress, gum, juniper, (valuable for telegraph poles, 
light to handle and growing tall and slender) black jack, 
red, water and other oaks, persimmon, haw, hickory, dog- 
wood, mulberry, bay, (often 60 feet high) cot ton wood and 
many others. Indeed the Biltmore expert who was here 
a year ago says Liberty County has some plants, includ- 
ing a tree of two varieties, unknown elsewhere, and ol 
great interest botanically. He will come again. 

The climate is that of West and Central Florida in g^^n- 
eral. Average health is the rule. Many old people iu 
Bristol and elsewhere testify to the healthfulness of the 
county. 

The turpentine interest is immense, the pines are be- 
ing ''boxed" over much of the county. In one way this 
is regretable, but it is the first step toward settlement and 
happy homesteads where now the whippowill and wild 
turkey are the only steady inhabitants. Next comes the 
sawmills and agricultural pursuits. 

Our open-kettle syrup from the true sugar cane is un- 
excelled, delicious as honey, but not cloying. Honey is also 
found on almost every farm and all is famous for pecu- 
liar delicacy of (lavi.r. Cottoi., peas of all kinds, corn, 
oats, vegetables of all sorts, are some of our products. 

Oranges, replanted in too few instances, are claimed 
to excel any grown. Some few trees are again nearly 
old enough to bear. Pompgranates and figs are in many 
"yards" ard could be largely developed. Pears excel. 

Daily steamboats ply the rivor from Albany, Ga., to the 
Gulf, but a railroad i<« much npoded to develop and m:\r- 
k'^t these varied industries. Much cyoress is rifted from 
our rivrr bottoms to /^pala«•^ico!a. bringing |!10 to $15 
j>pv 1.000 f(>cl in the log. Borne are four feet or more in 
diameter. 

l>and Iv now low. II n'^r a'*rf» to ROc; Imt tho tendf^ncy 
is upward. A "poor man" can easily establish a home 

prtd p\\ Mro x\'o? Mt<<0'V Fow •«»'l- po"f^ \(nvH }jx>p foHiifJ JQ 

the county; crime is very nnfrequent. But our cry'.n^ 

need is ca[tital, and fruit «anncneH and dryers, wood 



468 

workei-s of every sort, brick makers, mechanics, saw mill* 
and manufacturers will all iind here soil, climate, raw ma- 
terial and willing workers. 

Labor is mostly white and reliable as a rule; 50 cents 
to |1.50 per day from farm hands to carpenters and gen- 
eral mechanics. But as we plant and reap every day of 
the year, these figures will buy more real comfort than 
twice as much in Northern cities. 

Early potatoes, large as tea-cups, may be had in March 
and other things in proportion. 

The principal agricultural and other products for 1902 
were as follows: 

Value. 

Upland cotton, bales, 119 | J, 883 

Corn, bushels, 24,697 22,708 

Oats, bushels, 5,864 3,8(i4 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 19,822 11,251 

Field peas, bushels, 3,958 4,239 

Peanuts, bushels, 8,570 6,141 

Peaches, bushels, 1,127 1,200 

Syrup, barrels, 1,127 12,212 

Live stock on hand in 1902: 

Horses, number, 253 18,271 

Mules, number, 64 6,865 

Stock cattle, number, 2,499 20,495 

Sheep, number, 1,767 3,354 

Hogs, number, 4,422 7,708 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 8,634 2,347 



MADISON COUNTY. 

This county is bounded on the north by the State of 
Georgia, on the east by Hamilton and Suwannee, on the 
south by LaFayette and Taylor, and on the west by Jef- 
ferson counties. 

It has an area of 693 square miles of land surface, or 
443,520 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 14,310, and in 1900 it was 
15,446, of which number 6,542 were whites an5 8,904 were 
negroes. 



169 

At the close of the school term of 1901 there were in the 
county 95 schools, of which 60 were for whites and 35 
were for negroes. 

Madison (bounty was organized in 1828. It extended 
from the Georgia line to the Gulf of Mexico. The With- 
iacoocliee and Suwannee rivers were as now, the eastern, 
and the Aucilla river its western boundai'ies. In 18o6 
the counties of LaFayette and Taylor on the Gulf wci-e 
made out of it. In shape it is almost a square and con- 
tains nearly 800 square miles. The population is about 
16,000. It is a part of the rich agricultural northern tier 
of counties in Middle Florida. The lands are generally 
Tindulating and even hilly, only a small portion of the 
'h'an Pedro Bay in the south and southeast being low and 
flat. The western half consisting of oak and hickory or 
hammock lands, was originally settled by large cotton 
planters from Georgia, South Carolina and other states; 
the eastern part is pine, well timbered and with a soil 
especially adapted to the culture of high grades of long 
staple or Sea Island cotton, which in recent years has 
almost supplanted the growing of the short staple or Up 
land cotton. The most of the tillable land is improved 
and under cultivation, the number of acres being about 
125,000. There is but little public land subject to entry; 
that belonging to the United States is rapidly being taken 
up by homesteaders. There are several large lakes, and 
many small ones all over the county which abound in 
fish. There is plenty of quail and other small game. 
The price of land is from |3.00 per acre to $10.00, accord- 
ing to location. In 1882 a pamphlet issued from the U. 
S. Department of Agriculture used this language: *'A 
larger proportion of lands of Madison County are under 
cultivation than of any other county." 

PRODUCTS. 

The principal money crop is cotton. The yield per an- 
num is about 5,000 bales, one-ten fh of which is tFpland 
cotton, the balance Sea Island. When Upland cotton wa» 
raised the yield was over 15,000 bales. In recent years 
cpops have become more and more diversified, less atte»- 
tion being paid to cotton and more to other products. A« 
a general rule farmers have many things to sell besides 



470 

cotton, and seldom have to buy anything that can Iks 
raised on the tarni, such as com, oats, rye, rice, syrup, 
sweet potaiues, peas, pmueis, oacon, beet cattle^ etc. In 
the last few years many tons of pea vine and beggar weed 
hay have been raised and shipped to other market s and 
the out-put IS increasing yearly. The most of the farms 
are small but well cultivated. There are ten or a dozen 
turpentine farms in the county, representing a capital of 
over $200,000, and several lumber mills. Hundreds of 
acres have been planted in pecans and the acreage is in- 
creasing annually, thousands of pounds of nuts being sold 
annually. It is the home of the grape, especially the 
scupperuong, and of figs of all kinds. Keifer and Le- 
Conte pears, plums, peaches and other small fruits and 
berries do well. 

CHURCHES. 

The principal Protestant denominations are repre- 
eented in town and county, each having comm<)dIous 
houses of worship. 

SCHOOLS. 

The following statistics for tho scholastic year 1901-2, 
prepared by Mr. Hughes, County Superintendent of 
Schools, furnish valuable information in regard to the 
operation of the common or public schools of the county : 

Tax levy, five mills, county $ 8,554. li 

Tax levy, one mill, state and county 1,710 82 

Amount of county levy collected 7,641,02 

One mill state tax actually received. 3,493.10 

Poll tax assessed 2,100.00 

Poll tax collected 1,346.00 

Interest on state fund received by this county 

on apportionment • • • • 1,209 . 15 

Eeceived from all other sources. 405.89 

Total available school revenues for year ^14,095.16 

No. of white «<"hools '4S 

No. of white children 2,006 

Uo. of negro schools 34 



471 

No. of negro children 3,340 

No. of graded or high schools "... 1 

No. white male teachers employed 21 

No. white female teachers employed 21 

No. negro male teachers employed 11 

No. negro females employed 5 

Average salary paid white males (per month) f35 

Average salary paid white females (per month) 29 

Average salary paid negro males (per month) 2G 

Average salary paid negro females (per month) 29 

Average length of school term, 66 days. 

No. of teachers who are college graduates 8 

No. of teachers of the first grade 10 

No. of teachers of the second grade 24 

No. of teachers of the third grade 24 

No. of white children enrolled in school 1,737 

t J 

Cost of teaching white children $7,323.25 

Cost per capita •. 4 . 21 

No. of negro children enrolled 2,194 

Cost of teaching them 1^1,035 

Cost per capita SO 

Value of white school property . •. f 13,221 

Value of negro school property 1,444 

No. of independent sub-districts, none. 
Pay schools in town and county are open for several 
months in each year. 



TAXES. 



The value of taxable property has incrensed annually, 
being for 1902 |1,8.50,000 as agains |1,710,000 for 190*1, 
and the assessment is lower now than it has been for 
many years. The levy for 1902 is as follows : 



m 

General revenue If mills 

Schools 5 mills 

County bonds i mill 

Fine and forfeiture funds 1 mill 

Roads and bridges ^ mill 

Total county levy 9 mills 

Btate levy 5 mills 

Total for all pui*poses f 14 milli 

The list of tax sales in 1^02 for taxes 1901, is the short- 
mt of any in the State in proportion to population. 

The total valuation of taxable property for 1902 is 
about 11,850,000 as follows : 

On real estate $1,035,000 

On personal property 464,000 

On railroads and telegraphs 351,000 



|l,850.u00 
Total number of acres of farm lands assessdfl is about 
430,000. 

TOWNS, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 

Madison, the principal town, was organized in 1838, 
and is the county seat. It is situated 110 miles from 
Jacksonville and 55 miles from Tallahassee, the capital, 
12 miles from the Georgia line, 35 miles from the Gulf 
Coast, and has a popula'tion of about 1,500; It is incor- 
porated; built and owns the waterworks plant, which has 
been in successful operation for over three years. Has 
chartered telephone and electric light companies, the 
former of which has been in operation for two years, and 
the latter will soon be ready for business. There are "^ev- 
eml towns and villages situated on the Seaboard Air Lin© 
railroad, and on the new railroads from Quitman, Ga., to 
Greenville and Valdosta, Ga., to Madison, while hamlets 
are scattered all over the county. 

RAILROADS, TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONH 

LINES. 

The Seaboard Air Line railroad bisects the county from 
east to west. The Valdosta Southern was completed to 



473 

Madison two years ago, and the railroad from Quitman, 
Ga., to Greenville, a fourishing village within 15 miles of 
the town of Madison, has just been completed, the pros- 
pective terminus of each being the Gulf of Mexico, The 
Western Union Telegraph Company ha« been in operation 
for many years, and there is a telephone line from Madi- 
son to Valdosta. 

MANUFACTUEIES. 

In addition to the manufactory of naval stores and 
lumber referred to there are three large cotton ginnery 
establishments in the county, two at Madison and one at 
Greenville. One of them at Madison is one of the 
largest in the State and manufactures cotton seed oil {»nd 
fertilizers on a large scale. The establishment of a nov- 
elty works plant is mooted and may be built in the near 
future. 

HEALTH, TEMPERATURE, RAINFALL, 

Madison has her share of the ills to which flesh is heir, 
but diseases are usually of a mild type and yield ready 
to treatment, and there is no dread of yellow fever. The 
average temperature in summer is moderate, having the 
benefit of the breezes from the Gulf. The winters are 
usually mild, fhe occasional freezes doing little or no 
damage. The rainfall is average, no floods and but few 
dry spells and they of short duration, rarely doing any 
serious injury to the crops. 

SUMMARY. 

In a word, Maidson County, on account of its location, 
fertility of soil, salubrity of climate, healthfulness, va- 
riety and value of its products, its schools, churches, 
transportation facilities, and low rate of taxation, ofl'era 
attractions to all seeking new homes and new investments 
not surpassed by any otb«* county in the State, to whom 
a cordial welcome will be extended by her hospitable 
people. 

The principal agricnltnral and other products for 190f 
were as follows: 



474 

Value. 

Upland cotton, bales, 1,680 $ 59.U08 

Sea Island cotton, bales, 3,433 225,411 

Corn, bushels, 290,861 203.401 

Oats, bushels, 37,910 18,2i>7 

Sweet potatoes, 64,796 25,246 

Syrup, ban-els, 3,998 31.749 

Peanuts, bushels, 60,485 54,508 

Live stock on hand in 1902: 

Horses, number, 790 62.230 

Mules, number, 914 154,460 

Stock cattle, number, 4,632 29.908 

Hogs, number, 15,710 33,617 



MANATEE COUNTY. 

Manatee County is bounded on the north by Hillsbor- 
ough, east by DeSoto, and south by DeSoto counties, and 
tLe Gulf of Mexico, and west by the Gulf of Mexico. 

It has an area of 1275 square miles of land surface, op 
816,000 acres. 

Its population in 1890, was 2,895, and in 1900, it was 
4,663 of which number 4,205 were whites, and 458 were 
aegroes. 

At the close of the school term of 1901, there were in 
Hie county 44 schools, of which 41 were for whites and 3 
were for negroes. 

The general lay of the land in this county is level, 
though there are some sections of gently rolling country, 
in consequence its topography is much the same, only 
being occasionally broken by isolated tracts of moder- 
ately high hammock country. The peculiar geographical 
position of Manatee county, give it climatic advantages 
enjoyed by few localities in the State; the great stretcn 
of coast line, with the numerous bays and rivers, have 
in the past giv«n it such a degree of protection from frost 
in certain sections of the county that it amounts to pos- 
itive immunity from disastrous freezes. Trees have been 
damaged in some of the exDosed interior portions Of the 
county where killing frosts have occurred, but in the Man*- 
atee river section, the 'great - freezes of 1894-5 did little 
damage. 



475 

The soil of Manatee is with few exceptions of the 
eecond and third rate pine land classes; there are also 
limited areas of hammock lands mostly along the banks 
of the rivers; it is these three classes of lands which are 
used in making the various crops, and on which the 
groves of oranges, lemons, limes, grape fruit, guavas, etc. 
arc grown. There is still another class of land which 
makes up by far the greater portion of Manatee county, 
and that is the prairie lands which are utilized almost 
entirely as stock ranges ; yet it is neither improbable, nor 
impossible, that considerable areas of these last named 
lands will in time be brought Into profitai)le cultivation, 
by means of drainage, and irrigation. On the first named 
c'asses of land, and in the vicinity of the Manatee River 
eection, is where the immense crops of early vegetable* 
thiat are shipped to northern markets are produced; 
this is really at present the great vegetable and fruit 
growing section of Manatee county. The timber growths 
of the county is almost entirely of pine; as before stated 
there are limited areas of hammock land, the timber on 
which is usually of a mixed variety of hard wcods, pal- 
metto, pine and scrub undergrowth. The timber area is 
however comparatively limited. 

The principal industries are fruit and vegetable grow- 
ing, and raising of live stock; the immense tracts of open 
prairie, stretching almost the entire length of the county 
from north to south down the Myakka river valley, forms 
perhaps, the finest cattle ranges in one contiguous terri- 
tory east of the Missississippi river; with unfailing sup- 
plies of pasture grasses, and fresh water at all seasons of 
the year, it becomes (as it is) the ideal section for stock 
raising on a magnificent scale, by those interested in 
such industries; and yet this vast area is scarcely 
touched by herds. 

Transportation facilities fop the upper west anfl 
northwest portions of the county are good ; railroad com- 
munication is had daily with Tampa and the north from 
Sarasota on the coast, across ihb county, touching the 
western edge of the vegetable and fruit growing po4iit8 
and tam)ing the main line of the Seaboard Air Line near 
Plant City. There is also close and quick steamboat coni:- 
munication with the river and coast towns and shipping 



476 

points on the rivers, bays, and islands of the coast, via 
Taiapa. So that all those who desire to engage in any of 
the avocations mentioned for commercial purposes, there 
are ample facilitic« for the quick transiK)rtation of their 
pi'oducts. 

BRAIDENTOWN. 

The County Seat, is a thriving and progressive towa 
situated on the banks of the broad and beautiful Manatee 
river squarely in the midst of the most prosperous and 
fertile sections of the county ; it is the most important 
town in the county and one of the largest shipping po^nta. 
It has ample banks, schools, and church facilities, ah "^ 
nominations of these societies being well representtJ 
both in town and country. 

The principal agricultural and other products for 1902, 
were as follows : 

Value. 

Com, bushels, 3.935 1 2,418 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 14,675 7,474 

%rup, barrels, 125 1,952 

Kice, bushels, 1,103 1,103 

Cabbage, crates, 9.650 9,650 

Tomatoes, crates, 36,950, 47,15D 

Egg plants, crates, 2,680 9.570 

Celery, crates, 16,690 41,725 

Lettuce, crates, 16,959 21,198 

Oranges, boxes, 114,203 142,474 

Lemons, boxes, 3,000 6,000 

Grapefruit, crates, 3,459 20,766 

Live stock on hand in 1902: 

Horses, number, 702 23,345 

Mules, number, 34 3,645 

Stock cattle, number, 12,033 60,19« 

Hogs, number 2;934 2.934 

Poultry, all kinds, number 3,952 877 



477 

MARION COUNTY. 

Marion is boimded on the north by Alachua, Levy and 
Putnam, east by Alachua, Putnam and Lake, south by Cit- 
rus, Lake and Sumter, and west by Citrus and. Levy 
counties!. 

It has an area of 1,010 square miles of land surface, or 
1,049,600 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 20,796, and in 1900 it \va* 
24,40;i, of which number 9,:!56 were -whites and 15,047 
were negroes. 

At the close of the school term of 1901 there were in the 
eountq 112 schools, of which 67 were for whites and 45 
were for negroets. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL. 

Marion is the central of the Peninsular counties of 
Florida. It has higher hills and richer lands than any 
other (;ouuty in the State, or any other portion of the 
world, ^ye say that its altitude is greater l)ecause its 
waters flow into the Atlantic ocean on the one side and 
into the Gulf of Mexico on the other, thus forming the 
water shed of the peninsula. 

Its extent from north to south is 38 miles; from east 
to west 54 miles; it contains 45i townships. Its north- 
ern boundary is in 29 degrees, 15 minutes. As a purely 
agricultural county, in the yield of cotton, corn, peas, po- 
tatoes, sugar, syrup, and other products, per acre, it has 
long enjoyed the reputation of excelling all other counties 
in Florida; and since the introduction of fruit growing 
as a wealth-producing factor, it has heretofore borne off 
many of the honors in quality and quantity, and stands 
well among the first of fruit producing counties. 

CLASSES OF LAND. 

Pine lands form the basis of the lands of this county .is 
they do most of the counties of the State. They are divi- 
ded into three classes, denoting first, second and third 
rate lands. 



478 

FIRST CLASS PINE LANDS. 

Their surface are covered with a dark vegetable mould 
for several inches in depth, beneath which, to the depth 
of several feet, is a chocolate colored sandy loam, mixed 
for the most part with limestone pebbles, and resting 
upon a sub-stratum of marl, clay and limestone. Their 
fertility and durability may be estimated from the fact 
that they have been known to yield for thirty years of buc- 
•cessive cultivation without the aid of manures, 400 
pounds (lint) Sea Island cotton per acre. The limit of 
their durability is unknown. 

SECOND CLASS PINE LANDS. 

These lands form a large proportion of Florida, and 
Marion County has her due allotment of them. They are 
productive, and, by a proper system of cultivation, can be 
rendered valuable. They afford a natural pasturage; hvq 
heavily timbered with the best species of yellow pine, and 
are generally high, dry, rolling, healthy and well-wat3retL 

THIRD CLASS PINE LANDS. 

These are the most inferior of our lands, but under the 
climate of Florida are by no means worthless. They may 
be divided into two ordem — the one comprising high, 
rolling, sandy districts, sparsely covered with a stunted 
growth of ''black-jack" and pine; the other embracing low, 
flat, swamp regions covered with valuable timber. 

HAMMOCK LANDS. 

These are our best lands, and Marion County has fully 
100,000 acres. In these lands the orange tree is found 
growing indigenously. An erroneous impression prevails 
that these lands are low and swampy, but on the con- 
trary they are generally the most elevated. The surface 
i* of a rich, veg?tnble mould. They have an enormous 
growth of hardwood trees, and yields are reported of forty 
l)ushels of corn and three hogshead of sugar per s-ve 
without fertilizing. These lands are high, undulating 
nnd perfectly dry. it is a pomilar fallacy to snnpose that 
they are more unhealthy than other lands. These lands 
planted to bearing orange trees are very valuable. 



479 
RAINS 

During the fall and winter the weather is usually very 
dry, with azure ski^s, visited with occasional showers. Jn 
the spring there are more frequent showers, but until after 
the first of May no more than sufficient to bring up the 
eeed planted, keeping them in thrifty condition until the 
latter part of June or July, when the "rainy season" usu- 
ally commences, and generally lasts through the suramer 
months, sometimes extending into September and occa- 
sionally into October. During this period there are 
usually light showers every day, then there may be a 
cessation for several days or an interval of a week or 
ten days, and then at times several showers each day, suc- 
ceeded by an invigorating and refreshing breeze. 

In addition to the citrus variety of fruits, peaches, 
pears and grapes are grown in large quantities. The 
adaptability of the soil of this county to all sorts of fruit, 
vegetables and fields crops, makes it a most desirable sec- 
tion for vegetable and fruit growing for Northern mar- 
kets. All the fruits, except the truly tropical, all the 
vegetables and all the field crops that are successfully 
grown in the Southern States proper, thrive in the highest 
degree in Marion County. 

The farmers are of course under such circumstances 
very prosperous; the great majority produce mu(h Tviore 
than they consume, and have abundance for market. They 
raise the vast majority of their horses, all their cattle, 
hogs, cows, sheep, igoats and chickens, and everything else 
necesFary to sustain their farm and its operation. 

In view of these fa'ts and with the gr?at divcr.<^ity of 
Boils, from the light loam to the deep clay landf*. giving 
for years plant food adapted to every variety of fho vege- 
table kin'j^Tom that luxuriates in the temperate an'1 semi- 
tropical zones, offers great advantages to the settler, who, 
with sufficient canital directed upon it to make ft profita- 
ble, and with advantages of rapid transportation of 
the exported products and a large home demand for the 
Burptus. should not fail to induce those who desii'e a home 
Jn a glorious country, with its rolling hi IN, charming 
lakes and deep clear rivers, to make Marion County Iheir 
objective point on entering the State. To 'fettle and re- 
.gret is a calamity to many. Who could fuil to enjoy a 



480 

country wliere products can l>e grown the entirft year? 
The melting peach and juicy orange, the acid, lemon and 
luscious strawberry; the trailing blackberry and the 
plum in laiige variety; the pear, pomegranate, and the 
grape, in company with the majestic pecan and lowly 
olive, grow to perfection, whilst their companions, the 
maize, peanut, cow^ pea, hay, oats, and sweet I'otato, af- 
ford the necessaries for the planter and his stock, and are 
easily raised, without the vicissitudes that for months 
during the year in the northern latitudes tax the energies 
to |}rovide for. Consider the export crops,' cotton, and 
the golden syrup from the sugar cane, veijjetables and 
fruits in such great abundance that find a large demand 
at seasons when they cannot be produced elseyhere. What 
more can one desire? 

MINERAL RESOURCES. 

The mineral resources of the county consi!-t of vast de- 
posits of phosphate rock of high grade and considered 1o 
be the finest in the world; in the abson'^e (if a geological 
Survey, no other minerals are known to exist- A survey 
would possibly disclose deposits of minerals of equal or 
perhaps greater value. 

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 

Few counties in the State are so favored in this re- 
spect as Marion County. It has rail comnir.nication by 
two railroads and several branches, with nearly all por- 
tions of the country, and out of the State north and west, 
and south to all the ports of the South Atlantic and Gulf 
Coast of the State. In addition to the railways, tliere are 
the Withlacoochee and Ocklawaha rivers that su])p]y 
transpoi-tation for commerce and travel, the former to the 
Gulf of Mexico, and the latter via the St. Johns river to 
Jacksonville and the north. 

REPRESENTATIVE FARMING SECTIONS. 

Cotton Plant, now a prosperous, hustlitig little town, 
was originiilly a rural district embracing 108 square miles, 
situated due west of Ocala ten miles, is 140 feet above 



481 

the level of the fea, and is noted for th3 fertility of it3 
soil, freedom from inset ts, and its adaptab lity for agri- 
cultural, horticultural and fruit-raising qualilif5S. Jts 
soil is a ri(h, sandy loam, underlaid with a strata of 
sandy clay from two to three feet from the surface, inter- 
mixed in some places with marl and phosphater,. Its 
topography is high, dry, and undulatirg, being watered 
by clear water ponds and small lakes, intjrsporsed at <od- 
venient distances aj)art to supply stock roaming at l.irge- 
Good wells of water can be had at a depth of from ten to 
fifty feet. The land consists of detached hammocks of 
various dimensions, heavily timbered with live oak, ]H)St 
oak, white oak, red oak, water oak, red b*iy, )imgnolia, 
♦ herry, ash. hickory, sweet gum, dogwood, and numerous 
kinds of other hard woods of value. The ])ine land < om- 
j)rises 90 per cent, of its area, consists of firsr, second and 
third class lands as to fertility of soil, all well timbered 
with yellow pine, which is noted for its value f>»r tnechani- 
cal purposes. There are immense quarries of lime rock 
interspersed, which makes as good a quality of lime when 
buru'^d. for mechanical and fertilizing purposes as the 
world affords. Pea Island cotton, corn, tobacco, sugar 
rane, rye, oats, rice, potatoes, peas, pindars, hay, and veg- 
etables grow to perfection, and yield as much per acrp! 
without the use of fertilizers as any other locality in the 
State. It is the home of the oranee, whi( h in size, color 
and flavor comoare with the most favored localities of the 
* State. In addition to the citrus family n'^pch^s. qu'T^ces, 
apricots, pears, figs, plums, grapes, strawberries, black- 
berrips, rasnberr'es, and dewberries do well. Horses, 
mules, cattle, sheep, hojrs and poultry can be profitably 
raised. Some of the native cows with no extra attention 
give two gallons of milk per day. A» a health resort it- 
compares favorably with other localities of the State, t!:e 
climatic diseases being a light type of malarial fever and 
an occasional rp^f^ of congestion and pneumonia. The 
Atlantic Coast Line passes throuigh this locality, entprnt 
it at a central poi"t on th** ^"^st. diverffinsr south a^ it 
pnos west, and ir^psing a little south of western Cotto'i 
riant, which atfofds convenient transportation and a 
daily mail, to its citi-^e^s. Lands convenient to a ship- 
ping point can be bought at from five to twenty dollam 
31 H. F. 



482 

per acre. Immigrants are desired. Church and bchool 
privileges are good. 

FLEMINGTON. 

This is a prosperous town situated in the center of one^ 
of the richest and most desirable farmin^x sections of the 
county. The town has good schooh^ and churches, and the 
people are sociable and hoi-'pitable. 

Agriculture and its branches is the principal indus^:rv, 
and the people have been remarkably successful in general 
farming, and vegetable and fruit growing for market. 
Their lands are peculiarly situated and well adapted to 
stock raising, Av^hich is e?:tensively carried on by its people, 
some of its solid citizens owning herds that are numbered 
by the hundreds, of cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. Its 
principle agricultural products are corn, oats, srigar cane, 
cotton — long and short staple, upland rice, potatoes and. 
peas. It has long been called the garden spot and gran- 
ary of the cou.ity. Its natural resources are equal to any 
in the State. Lands are plentiful and cheap; desirable 
immigrants are cordially welcomed, and genrously 
treated. 

ORANGE SPRINGS. 

This community is located in the extreme northeastern 
portion of the county, twenty-six miles from Ocala. It 
dertves its name from a celebrated 8uli)hur spring, which 
possesses wonderful medicinal virtues, in the amelioratleji 
and cure of skin diseases and impurities of the blood. In 
anti-bellum days it was the resort during the summer 
months, for many families from the rich hammock, sug.tr 
and cotton plantations to the west, to fsnend the enervat- 
ing season of the year, with most gratifying results, and 
to this day it retains mueh of its former reputation as a 
health resort for tho^e with eutaneons atflictions. Its im- 
mense flow of water is peculiar to the artesian sprinp-g of 
Florida, bursting forth from the bowels of the earth in 
quantity sutficiert to drive a cotton mill or float a small- 
sized steamer. The pl^ee, besides a nostotfice, contains 
four general stores, a ^rist and saw mill, school hon=?e fwA 
church. It also boasts of some very fine, producti>'e 



483 

groves, and as fertile lands as Florida possesses. Tlio 
nearest railroad point is Johnson, six miles north, on ihe 
line of the Florida Southern Kailroad, which Tvins from 
Palatka to Gainesville and a landing on the Oeklawaha 
river, some three miles to the southeast. The quality, na- 
Inre, price and productiveness of the soil is similar to and 
in all respects equal to the provisions of described locali- 
ties 

McINTOSH. 

The town of Mcintosh was plotted in ISS'i. The 
blocks contain about two acres each and are divided into 
building lots. The streets are sixty and eighty feet in 
width, the main street havirg a row of live oak trees of 
great size, some with a spread of branches of over eighty 
feet. The town is on the Atlantic Coast Line Kailroad 
and has good transportation facilities, d.^.ily mails, ex- 
press and telegraph service. It has a resident population 
of about 400, two churches, a good school eni})loying three 
teachers and with about 100 pupils enrolled. Orange 
Lake, on the west bank of which the town is situated, is 
well stocked with fi^h and good quail shooting can be had 
near by. Nearly all of the residents are from states north 
of Florida and have never forgotten the thriftines» 
acquired in their Northern homes. Their tables are well 
supplied with fresh vegetables throughout the winter, as 
well as with fresh butter and milk. 

'soil. 

The soil is very fertile, often producing 40 bushels of 
corn per acre. Corn is usually a second crop, being 
planted after a crop of lettuce, bejins. beets, cabbage or 
potatoes has been taken off. The land is high, rolling 
hammock with good natural drainage, the original growth 
being oak, hickory, ash, mai^rnoli.i, gum and live oak of 
great size. These lands can be puvchased in plotaof from 
ten to forty acres or more, at prices ranging from §!20.00 
to |40,00 per acre, some of the plots being cleared and 
fenced. 



4M 

VEGETABLES. 

The farmers raise vegetables for their principal market 
crop. These crops of vegetables liav^e been quite prodta- 
ble. A fair yield of lettuce is 400 baskets per acre, sell- 
ing for about $1.50 per basket. A fair yield of l>eans is 
100 baskets per acre, which for part 'if the spa*on this 
year sold for fl.OO per basket. From 100 to 150 barrels 
of cabbige grow per acre, and a liirj^e part of this year's 
crop sold at f 2.00 per barrel ; duriu;); some weeks as high 
as |2.35 per barrel. These prices were f. o. b. .Mcintosh. 
The farmers likewise raise corn, hwy, oats, cattle and lu)g«?. 
There is a cold storage plaut at Ocala, a few miles distant 
by railroad. 

ORANGE CULTUKE. 

Before the freeze of 1805, Mclntosn contained a number 
of very profitable orange groves. For some years subse- 
quent to that time no orange crops were c»btained, but la«t 
fall the r.'^rketed crop reached 0.000 boxes, and interest in 
orange culture has revived under the belief that the groves 
will soon be again yieldiPi^ handsome returns, as no port 
of the State produces oranges of finer llavor or of better 
carrj'ing and keeping qualities. 

rOULTRY. 

Thickens are shipped from Mcintosh nearly every week 
in the year, and as many as 1,000 dozen of eggs have been 
sent out in a week, the large hotels on the East Coast mak- 
ing a good market for surplus supplies of this sort. Ocala, 
Jacksonville and other nearby towns also call for a con- 
Btant supply. 

LAKE WEIR, 

Kvery where acknowledged as the gem of Florida lakes. 
Tho inke is oVr-nlnr in s^a^e. pnd the banks rpc^^^de rrad- 
tiallv to a height of forty or fifty feet. The rich foliage 
of the orange, lemon and lime, the massive oaks, the >\hire 
Bandy beach, and the sparkling waters, comnlete the per- 
fect picture. The lake is about twenty miles in firc;ura- 



<85 

ference,- and its shores are lined with elegant homos and 
wealth-yielding or, hards. The lake itrelf is dotted ^\itll 
steam yachts and pleasure boats; the citizens live \v |)er- 
fect contentment and dispense an elegant hospitality. 
They know they have a "good thing" and know how to 
enjoy it. The county of this section is the equal 'jf i"\y 
other portion of the county in productive qualities, and it 
Is in this section that vast quantities of tha vegetable and 
fruit crops are produced for Northern markets. 

OCALA. 

Ocala is the county seat of Marion county, and one of 
the most important points in peninsular Florida. Ita 
population in 1890 was 2,094, and in 1900, 3,385. It is sit- 
uated almost in the center of the county, and controla 
practically the entire business of the county, in addiiion 
to a very large share of the trade of the adjoining coiin- 
ties. It is a bustling, prosperous city, handsomely built 
up, and enjoys probably the best transportation, and gen- 
eral trade facilities of any point in the southeastern .sec- 
tion of the State. 

Ocala is particularly fortunate in her local surround- 
ings. The far-famed Silver Springs and Ocklawaha river 
are only a few miles eastward. Blue Springs and Dun- 
nellon, where lie the wonderful phosphate deposits, are si 
few miles westward. Orange lake, containing along its 
shores the largest continuous bearing orange grove In the 
world, is only a few miles to the north, and a few miJes 
to the south is Lake Weir, famed for the beauty of its v/a- 
ters and the culture of its people. All these places are 
connected by rail and are reached in a few minutes. 

Immediately surrounding Ocala are immense bodies of 
hammock lands, which have recently been converted into 
orange groves and gardens, and the yield from their culti- 
vation is annually increasing, and has been one of the 
mainsprings in the rapid and solid progress of the city. 

The manufacture of lime is one of the principal indus- 
tries and Ocala supplies a large portion of the State with 
building lime and lime for sanitary purposes, and is said 
to be the purest in the world. 

The climate, like all Florida, is delightful and healfhful. 

Timber for manufacturing purposes is abundant. 



486 

Farm and orange lands in immediate vicinity at reason- 
able prices. 

The prospects of no city in the South are more prom- 
ising. 

We extend a cordial invitation to all the world to come 
and help build and help enjoy. 

All religious denominations are well represented, the 
churches are thriving, and her school facilties are of the 
best. 

The principal agricultural and other products for 1902 
were as follows : 

Sea Island cotton, bales, 1,4G2 1104.020 

Corn, bushels, 146,130 87,220 

Oats, bushels, 74,670 S(M20 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 73,240 20, { -^0 

Eire, bushels, 4,260 4,200 

Peanuts, bushels, 15,510 14.040 

Velvet beans, bushels, 50,560 50,.'n0 

Cabbage, crates, 8,650 >^XthO 

Tomatoes, crates, 14,580 13.(;40 

Lettuce, crates, 15,655 13,080 

Watermelons, car loads, 428 30.560 

Cantaloupes, crates, 37,040 30.r.40 

Beans, crates, 30,780 20.780 

Oranges, boxes, 15,600 23.200 

Syrup, barrels, 768 0,190 

Live stock on hand in 1902: 

Hoi'ses, number, 3,013 100.07G 

Mules, number, 768 58,322 

Stock cattle, number, 14,948 71.261 

Sheep, number, 5.397 6.300 

Hogs, number, 9,566 i 9,566 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 49,321 14.305 

Milch cows, number. 2.510 40.943 

Butter, pounds, 99,265 *. . . 21,105 



i 487 

MONROE COUNTY. 

As is well known, Monroe County, the southermost 
<:ounty of the State of Florida, comprises Key West, all 
the islands or keys in a northeasterly direction from that 
point, as far as Angel Fish Key on the Atlantic, all tho 
keys in a northerly direction from the same point, includ- 
ing the ten thousand islands, as far as Chocoloskie, and 
a slip of the most southern point of the peninsular or 
mainland, known as Cape Sable and N. W. Cape, to the 
southward of Lee and the westward of the southern por- 
tion of Dade counties. 

Although the county, as will be sean by the above de- 
scription, comprises, or includes but a very small por- 
tion of the mainland of the ?tate, it is one of the mo^t 
flourishing, not only in the State, but in the country. 

The resources of the county are comparatively ua- 
konwn, but the probabilities aie that not many years will 
pass before the untold wealth of its thousands of beauti- 
ful islands will reward those who properly exploit them. 

Key West is the county seat, and, at the present time, 
the only city or tewn in the county. It is, therefore, 
naturally the centre and headquarters of its various in- 
dustries, and the home of about nineteen-twentieths of 
its population — the balance of its inhabitants having 
their homes on the various keys, where they are engaged 
in farming. 

The population of the county is variously estimated at 
from twenty thousand and to twenty-five thousand. A con- 
servative estimate of the present time would be twenty- 
two thousand, about fifteen thousand of whom are white:, 
aad seven thousand colored. 

Key West, as has been stated above, being the only city 
or town in the county, it would not be amiss to give a 
short sketch of the most unique city in the country. 

The very southennoflt inhabitable key of the many 
thousands in Monroe county, and the most southern city 
in. the United States, it stands out boldly between the 
Atlantic ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, about sixty miles 
from Cape Sable, the nearest point of the mainland. This 
little city of the Gulf is situated on a coral island and i» 
but seven miles long and one mile in breadth at its widest 



488, 

portion. It originally belonged to the Spaniards and 
was givpn to one Silas. It changed hands several times 
before it came to those of its original Yankee owners in 
the year 1816. 

For many years it was simply a fishing and wrecking 
hamlet, but today it can boast of its fine public buildings, 
banks, churches, school houses, private residences, etc. 

The United States government has recently purchased, 
by condemnation proceedings, several valuable blocks 
for naval purposes, and has now in contemplation the 
condemnation of two other blocks for the same purpose. 
On the site already purchased a handsome office and resi- 
dence has been contracted for especially for the weath?r 
observer. The rest of the property will be utilized for 
some immens3 and handsome machine shops, admiral's 
and officers quarters and depots. 

For the past two years the government has also had 
under consideration the purchas^e of a very large tract 
near Fort Taylor, and the new fortifications — erected 
since the war with Spain, for military purposes, and it is 
thought likely that the next congress will readily make 
the appropriation for the consummation of the pur- 
chase. 

The city may be properly classed as cosmopolitan, as Hr 
numbers among its citizens people from almost every 
part of the world. 

The climate will compare favorably with that of any 
other portion of the country, for while the county is sit- 
uated almost within the tropics, it is fann3d by the breeze 
of both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic ocean, enjoy- 
ing an entirely marine, and, consequently, very equable 
'Climate. 

This can be seen by a glance at the data obtained from 
the U. S. Weather Bureau office at K;ey West. 

An examination of the reeords for the past eleven 
years — 1891 to 1901 inclusive — shows the following : The 
mean or average temperature for the year is 76 degrees. 
The mean of the three hottest months — July, August and 
September — is 82.2 degrees. The mean of the three cold- 
est months — December. January and Febriwry — is '69 de- 
grees. The range between the hottest and coldest months 



• 489 

is 15 degrees, and the greatest range (jf temperature dur- 
ing any month is 37 degre3s. The hichest teuipeiatiire 
recorded during the eleven years was 92 degrees, and the 
entire number of times on which the temperature ei- 
ceeded 90 degrees was 8 days. 

The lowest temperature recorded was 44 degrees, but 
a record of 41 degrees was made in January-, 1886. 

The average of the mean maximum temperatures is 80 
degrees, ranging from a mean maximum of 72 degrees in 
January to a mean maximum of 88 degrees in August. 
The meau niiuimum temperatuie is 72 degrees, ranging 
from G4 degrees in January to 78 d:\irreps in JnW, 
and August. The average rainfall annually is 35.77 
inches. The rainy season being from May to October in- 
clusive. During the season the precipitation averages 
20.68 inches, or nearly three times as much as falls dui- 
ing the other six months of the year. Below is a tabu- 
lated statement obtained from the observer's office in Key 
West: 





Tempe 


ran re 


Men- 


1 e,iij| 

ib've 
)() de- 


Temperature 


Knia- 

fall. 


Months 


Extr 


pmes 


'.hlv 


Monlhlv M 


ean.*-- 


fnchfts 








KanV 


srrees 
No o 
dnys 








^ hun- 




Mav. 


Min. 


Mix. 


Min. 


Mejii 


iredihs 


January 


82 


46 


34 





72 


6t 


68 


2 02 


February 


82 


44 


37 





74 


65 


69 


1.64 


March . . 


84 


52 


32 





77 


68 


72 


I.*} 


April . . . 


85 


54 


28 





"38 


71 


75 


1 11 


May . ... 


89 


66 


21 





83 


74 


78 


2 76 


.Ivne 


90 


69 


21 





86 


77 


81 


3.81 


Julv 


91 


69 


21 


4 


87 


78 


83 


•'.77 


August. 


92 


6S 


23 


3 


88 


78 


83 


4.^6 


Spp'PTTlb' 


91 


69 


VI 


1 


86 


77 


82 


7 04 


October . 


88 


59 


28 





83 


75 


78 


5 71 


Novembej 


K6 


57 


27 





7*^ 


71 


74 


1 22 


December 


83 


44 


37 





74 


67 


70 


1.75 




Hit'hesi 


Lowe.' t 












Tot il 


Average 


92 


44 


28 


8 


80 


72 


76 


35.77 



490 

The assessed ralde of real and personal property is, 
in ronnd numbers, $1,800,000.00 — which is about one- 
third the actual value. The rate of taxation is but thir- 
teen and one-half mills, five mills of which is for school 
purposes. Besides the real and personal tax collected, 
which, by the way, is paid with more promptitude than 
any other county in the State, the occupation license tax 
collected amounts to about |7.500.00. 

The county has five principal industries, which are, in 
the order of their importance — cigar manufacturing, 
sponge fishing, farming, turtle catching and fishing. 
Several other industries, such ?s wood cutting, coal burn- 
ing, shell gathering, freighting the wood, coal, etc., to Key 
West being simply a local business is scarcely worth men- 
tioning, although those engaged make a fair livelihood 
from the small cigar manufacturing, on account of the 
capital invested, and the number of persons employed in 
the business, is entitled to be placed foremost in impor- 
tance in the list of industries. 

Key West, being the headquarters of all the industries 
of the county, is especially so of the cigar industry. 
Thirty-four yeare ago at the time of the exodus of the 
Cubans from Cuba — on account of the revolution then 
brewing, and resulting in their war for independence- 
Key West became the asylum of great numbers of them, 
and the cigar industry was started there on what wa» 
then considered a large scale, but was, in fact, in compar- 
ison to what it afterwards became, an infant industry. 

There are established there at the present time ninety- 
nine factories, some of which employ from two hundred 
to four hundred hands. 

The number of cigars manufactured annually for eer* 
era! years past have been 80,000,000; the value of the 
annual output being |4,000,000.00. 

Key West having a climate, almost, if not exactly iden- 
tical with that of Havana, it has for many years been, 
and it would appear, justly claimed, that cigars man- 
ufactured there were quite equal in flavor and make to 
those mannfactured in Havana. Without an unforeseen 
casualty the factories will mostly all work with full 
force for the next twelve months. 

The next industry in importance in the county is that 
of sponge fishing. This business was first established at 



491 

Key West in the year 1849 and from year to year has 
gi'own until at present and for a number of years past 
the annual value of the production amounts to at least a 
half million dollars. There are engaged in the business 
110 vessels of from five to thirty tons, and an almost in- 
numerable number of smaller crafts. The number of men 
employed in the business are something over 1,600. 

The value of the vessels and paraphenalia will exceed 
1200,000. 

The prices for sponge have been increasing for several 
years past and at present the finest quality are wortli 
from three to four dollars per pound. 

Thii*d on the list of industries is that of farming, 
which is exclusively done on the Keys — the principal part 
and bulk being carried on on Key Largo, Plantation Key 
and Upper Matacombie. The three above mentioned 
Keys, especially Key Largo, are famous for their pineap- 
ples. 

It is a fact which cannot be successfully refuted, that 
the fii-st pineapple ever successfully cultivated in Flor- 
ida was raised on Key Largo, about the year 1865. 

From an insignificant business, the growing of pine- 
apples has attained the importance of one of the prime 
industries of the county. The Spanish red and Porto 
Bico are the only two kinds grown. 

Truck farming is also extensively and successfully 
carried on on the Keys already mentioned, and also on a 
number of other keys pertaining to the county, tomato 
being the principal crop planted. Fifty thouMuud boxes 
are shipped annually. 

Every tropical fruit, including oranges and pomelo as 
well as the paying crops of truck, such as egg plants, pep- 
pers, cucumbers, beans, cabbage, etc., can be successful!/ 
and protably grown on almost every key in the county, as 
is evidenced by those farmers who plant them. 

There are at present 121 farms in the county, compris- 
ing a total number of acres approximating 15,000, about 
2,500 of which are improved and under cultivation. 

The value of the farm^e will aggi*egate $20,0,000 for land 
and improvements and |50,000 for buildings. The valne 
of the products the past year was, on a very conservativo 
estimate, from information obtained, ,|250,000, and the 
expenditures for labor, etc., were $20,000. 



402 

As will be sean by the above figures, the profits for farm- 
ing on the keys of this county is yearly nearly equal ta 
the total value of the farms. 

Tlie keys are practically inexhaustible for fruit rais- 
ing and truck farming, and if done on a scientiflfc, or even 
a more proper farming manner than at present, the most 
wonderful and highly profitable results would be realized. 

It has been claimed for many years that pineapples 
could not be successfully grown on any of the keys south 
of Matacombie, but the fact is the experiment has aevep 
been carried to any great extent by those who understand 
their cultivation. There is no doubt in the mind of the 
writer that many of what are called the lower keys wourd 
produce them, and profitably, too. To the certain knowl- 
edge of the writer and several other persons, the exDeri- 
ment was made in a small manner, by those who knew: 
but little of the mode of their cultivation, €n Cudjoes — 
an island about eighteen miles northeasterly from Key 
West — and, although the slips were not properly planted 
nor attended to, they produced a fair percentage of as 
large and fine pineapples as were ever raised on Key 
Largo. 

As all the keys in Monroe county are positively below 
the frost line, and, as has been stated, a great many of 
them are very fertile, not many more years will elapse 
before they will bloom with the sweet-scent?d blosso ns 
from many an orange grove. Such tropical fruit as the 
mango, Avocado pear, sappodillo, sugar apple, guava, 
etc., grows on these keys luxuriantly without care or at- 
tention. 

The transportation facilities, although not up to date- - 
it all being done by sailing vessels — is fairly good, there 
being about ten vessels of from fifteen to thirty-five tons 
each, on the difff^^p^Tt rontps. which n'oi-o wppi^iv lrins. 

A most beautiful sight and a delightful pasttime is a 
sail on one of these vessels in fair weather along the 
Ehore of the many keys. 

Thp fishing industry i'^ merelv for lo^al con^umnnon, 
with the excepition of three months in the year — Decem- 
ber, January, and February — which is the kingfish sea- 
son. Dnrin'r those months the industrv is nu'to lively, 
and every fisherman is busily employed in trolling for 
this delicious fish. They begin to arrive in these waters 



493 

in December in immense scliools, and travel up and down 
tue oLtau jufct uuiSiUe oi" llxe leefs. The bulk ot tuis lish, 
which is taught daily by the thousands, is shipped tu 
Cuba, where they are much sought after. Quite a quan- 
tity is also shipped to New York and other Northern cit- 
ies. In the season some two hundred men are engaged in 
the business, and they all reap a rich harvest. A fisn 
canning industry, if established either at Key West or 
on one of the keys, would certainly prove a very profit- 
able business. The finest fish in the world can be had 
every day in the year in» unlimited quantities, and at a 
trifling cust. Genuine ''conch" lish-chowder canned would 
require but little capital, and if properly advertised, 
would result in a quick fortune to the individual or 
company who undertook the business. The turtle indus- 
try, that is, the catching of turtles for export, although 
it has fallen off considerably in the past five years, yet 
furnishes employment and a fair livelihood to about fifty 
men. Some half dozen vessels are engaged in the busi- 
ness during the entire year. Almost the entire number 
of turtles caught are sold in the market at Key West to 
the agents of Northern firms and they are shipped weekly 
to New York, Philadelphia and other cities. The busi- 
ne?s is valued at about $25,000,00 a year. For several 
jeans past a French company has been putting up canned 
turtle soup on a small s^ale and shipping their goods to 
Europe. They seem to be doing well. 

The waters of the Florida Keys in this county is the 
natural home of that gameet of game fish — tarfxm — and 
a f"^' hours sailing and trolling often re<*ults in the 
landing of several. Right in the harbor of Key West they 
pTP f,.onn'^"''t'v rn^o-ht iiiea''niTig from five to six feet in 
length, and occasionally a fine specimen is caught from 
the docks. For those who like this sport there are no 
waters in th'^ Ptnte th-^t can pnnol f'^ose of the keys in 
this county for the numbers of this fish. 

On the keys in the county deer hunting is another 
Bport which repays the sportsman for his time. Fre- 
quently the farmers complain of the damage done by the 
herds to their crops, and organize parties to hunt them^ 
r-turning to town with numbers of them bageed. 

In the winter season duck hunting is also indulged In 
by sporting huntsmen and a failure to bag a good number 



404 

is the exception. Wild pigeons are also quite numerous 
in the proper season and fine sport is had on a pigeon 
hunt. 

There are in the county fifteen churches, fourteen of 
which are in Key West and one at Key Largo. They are 
divided as follows as to sect: 

Four Episcopalian, two white and two colored. 

One Calkolic, white and colored. 

Six Methodist, three white and three colored. 

Two Baptist, white. 

One Congregational ist, white. 

One Methodist at Key Largo, whit3. 

The Holy Rites and Christian Scientists also occasion- 
ally hold religious meetings in Key West. 

The number of free schools in the county are nine, two 
white and €n3 Cuban in Key West; four white in Key 
Largo and two colored in Key West. The white schools 
have 1328 registered pupils, and the colored schools 608. 

The total value of county school property is |15,000.00. 

The number of teachers employed in these schools are 
16 white and 8 colored and the annual salaries aggregate 
for white teachers $7094, and for the colored teachers 
15314. 

The total receipts for school purposes amounts to 
$12,700 annually and the expenditures |11,114.00. 

At the present time the indebtedness amounts to 
11,370,00, 

Besides the free schools there are eight private schools, 
two of which, a Catholic convent school and a Methodist 
seminary, are high schools. 

The transportation facilities are by steam and sail 
vessels. The Mallory Line of steamships arriving Wed- 
ne«!days of each week from New York and Fridays from 
Galveston, Texas, The P, & O. Line tri-weekly from 
Tampa and Havana, and the Flagler or East Coast Lino 
also tri-v/pekly from Miami and Havana. A monthly 
line of isailing froni New York is a regular method of 
transportation. 



495 

NASSAU COUNTY* 

Nassar. County, situated in the northeastern corae? of 
tiio State, (ontains about G45 square miles, or 412,800 
•a<Tes. It Is bounced on the north and west by the St. 
Mary's liiver, a stream navigable for nearly sixty miles 
by ocean }.{oing vessels; on the south by Nassau River, a 
stream with equal nav'igation poss.bilities, and on the 
east by rhe .Atlantic Ocean. 

The rivers and their numerous tributaries, together 
wilh the Seaboard Air Line Railway, the Atlantic, Val- 
dosta and Western Railway and the Atlantic Coast Line 
Railway, which cross the county north, south, east and 
west, make nearly every acre of land accessible for rail 
and water transportation and accessibility to its natural 
rescfurces is one of the leading features of the county, 
and in that respect cannot be equalled by any other coun- 
ty in the State.* 

The soil of Nassau County varies according to locality, 
from low, rich, black, swamp, and marsh lands to dry 
pine lances. The mainland of the county is mostly of a 
sandy character unc^rlaid with clay, at a depth of from 
two to six feet, a soil retentive of fertilizers and capab.e 
of the highest state of cultivation. The natural re- 
sources from our pine forests have somewhat retarded the 
progress of our agricultural developments, but the .lay 
is not far distant when Nassau County will tako its 
proper place as one of the best farming counties in the 
State. Our farmers are commencing to see the possi- 
bilities of the soil, and from one single small country sta- 
tion over 12,000 bushels of sweet potatoes were shipped 
and paid for on delivery, netting over $6,000 or nearly 
$120.00 per acre, for a single item of crops in a three 
months season. 

Cattle raising is one of the important factors of the 
farmers wealth in Nassau Courtv, but is yet in its infan- 
cy and capable of large possibilities owing to low prices* 
of good grazips: land and the vast acreasre of denuded 
timber land which will make the land available for pas- 
turaoe, 

Tho n'lval stores industry has ju«'t stnrted In the county 
and thousands of acres are in the hands of operators who 
will very materially add to the immense business just tie- 



493 

veloping in the State. Oats, corn, potatoes, sugar cane, 
cassava, cotton, lorig and short staple, and vegetables of 
all description are profitably raised in the county, and 
peaches, pecans, grapes, ptars, quinces, plums and other 
fruits are peculiarly adapted to the character of the soil. 
Kite growirg could be made as su.cessful here as it is in 
Western Louisiara and Texas and would yield a profit 
of from forty to sixty dollars per acre. A large reward 
is in store for those who have sufficient capital and en- 
ergy and are willing to embrace tlie opportunities offered. 
Thousands of acres are available for rice culture. 

On Amelia Island, the edge of the mainland, and scat- 
tered along her rivers, are soils of calcareous sand, that 
are adapted for the finest qualities of long staple cotton, 
to the culture of the jrrape and olive, while the branch, 
fresh marsh, and black rush lands attached to thein are 
especially suitable for gardening. These lands are easily 
reclaimed, ri h, moist and close to the dipping opportu- 
nities, so that the shipping of early vegetables to North- 
ern markets must soon form a considerable item in the 
list of profitable investments. 

It is estimated that there are at least 20,000 acres of 
these marsh lands in the county whi( h can now be bought 
for a mere song, but when reclaimed, are worth from 
$100 to fl.OOO per acre. In Connecticut the^se reclaimed 
marsh lands are considered the most valuable for garden- 
ing. 

Our reclaimed marsh lands are particularly adanted to 
the raising of grass, rice and vcjgetnbles. This soil is as 
fine as flour and consists of vegetable matter which h;iS 
been accumulating for «entur>s. There is not a twig or 
root growing upon this land, while it lies perfectly level. 
It is covered with a salt grab's whidi is much relishei bv 
stock. To reclaim these lands it is necessary to build 
dams or levees to keep off the tide water. After eighteen 
months they will be ready for cultivation. There are 
Tiundreds of acres of th's land, which can be had for the 
reclaiming of them. When once brought i^to cultiva"'on 
there are no lands in the United States which excel them 
in fertility. 

Nassau County offers inducements to vegetable growers 
whi' h can be found in ro other section in the rotate. 
This is no idle boast, but can be demonstrated by oolrl 



497 

facts. We have the express and fast mail to the North 
and West, as well as steamship transpotration to New- 
York. The vegetables or fruit can be gathered fresh from 
the garden and placed upon the steamship in first class 
condition, where they will not be disturbed or handled 
until placed for sale in the New York market. While 
there are many localities in the State which have fertile 
soil, yet the lack of quick transportation debars them 
from competing with the more favored sections. 

Another feature which is of much importance to llie 
truck raisers is that we never have extreme cold, as we 
are surrounded by water direi t from the ocean, which 
tempers the winter wjnds, and vegetables come off gs 
early on the island as if we were situated one hundred 
miles further south. This locality offers rare induce- 
ments to reclaim some of these valuable lands. 

The total assessed valuation of Nassau County is two 
million two hundred and twenty-nine thousand dollai-s, 
with a taxation rate for state and county of 1()J mills. 
The number of inhabitants in the census year was tab- 
ulated at 9,654, of which number 4,559 were white and 
5,095 were negroes, but owing to the large influx of peo 
pie, due to the naval stores and other industries, the pres- 
ent population exceeds 12,000, 

Nassau County supports fifty-seven public schools, at- 
tended by 2,830 pupils, and the school board owns |1S,750 
worth of property. Forty-one of the schools are attended 
by white pupils and the other sixteen are devoted to the 
education of the colored population. Eighteen postofficea 
and twenty railway stations offer postal, transportation, 
express, telegraph and telephone facilities within easy 
reach of every inhabitant of the county, and churchea of 
leading denominations are to be found in every hamlet. 

Nassau County is practically free from debt; the total 
indebtedness, including that of school board, will not 
reach twenty thousand dollars, with the tax levy for 1902 
etill uncollected. 

The finances of the county are in a prosperous condi- 
tion, it may be said that the individual is also financially 
well fixed. Only one commercial failure in twenty years 
is an unequalled record of prosperity for any co,unty and 
it can also be said that fewer mortgages are to be found 

32 H. F. 



408 

on homes and real estate in Nassau County, in pro])<»r- 
tion to valuation, than is any county in this or any other 
Southern Slate. 

Heavy drafts have been made upon our })ine timber, but 
we have yet enough left to suppl}' our njills for anotiier 
quarter of a century. 

The hardwoods of the hammocks and river l)ottoms aio 
still undisturbed. Many varieties of merit and beauty 
are waiting the certain coming demands of industry. 

The waters of Nassau County abound in fresh and salt 
water fish, in hundreds of varieties. Diamond back t'n-ra- 
pins, clams, oysters, prawns, shrimp and crabs. The shad 
fisheries of the St. iMary's Kiver and Nassau Kiver are of 
commercial importance, the prawn packers on Araeiii 
Eiv^er are doing a prosjierous business and our several 
oyster canneries are realizing handsome profits to tlK'ir 
owners. 

There are but few towns in the counly. Fernandina is 
the county seat, Callahan is next in size and importance. 
It boasts of having a quiet, moral, law-abiding citizen- 
ship. It has two churches, ^Nfethodist and Baptist, and a 
good public school. Tbey also have an up-to-date sav/- 
mill and blacksmith sho]), a first class rice, inill, whicii is 
still busy cleaning last year's crop. The trick business 
also adds largely to the revenue of the town, as it em- 
ploys considerable labor. Turpentine and timber are 
both indtistries that benefit the town, also the getting of 
tjes, logs, wood, etc. Lands produce well, and the people 
are energetic and industrious. 

Callahan is located at the intersection of the Savan- 
nah, Florida and Western Eailroad and the Seaboard Air 
Line. Other towns are Dyal and Hilliard, on the A. C. L. 
R. R., Yulee and Evergreen, on the S. A. L. Ry., Crawford 
And Kent oti the A., V. & W. Ry., Chester, Crandall and 
King's Ferry on the St. Mary's river have large lumijer 
mills, .whose outputs running into millions of feet, jire 
loaded at the mills into ocean-going vessels. 

These are all small but prosperous communities of in- 
dustrious, hospitable people, ever ready to welcome the 
stranger and new comer, for whom there is plenty of room 
and golden opportunities. 



100 

Nassau T'oiinty has no ]»oor liouse and none is v/anted, 
only a few physicaHv disabled poisons ai-e on the pauper- 
list. The iini)rovident, the idler and the shiftless are un- 
known among our people and are not wanted in the 
county. 

FERXANDIXA. 

Fernandina is the county seat of Nassau County and 
has the largest and deepest harbor on the easjein coast 
of the State and on the f^outh Atlantic, v^essels lan en- 
ter her port at high water drawing 'M) feet*. Three hun- 
dred and forty-seven vessels cleared out of its cuslom 
house in 1002 with cargoes valued at seven million sc\en 
hundred and forty thousand dollars. 

Its present po])ulation is over O.OOU iniial.'itnnis. A 
jnile and a lialf of wharves and an immense ]»hosphi!te 
elevator facilitate her large export trade. The city has 
two oyster canneries, a palmetto fibre factory, saw and 
planing mills, ice works, water works, three artesian 
wells, two cigar factories, a national bank, a telegraph 
station, a telephone exchange, an electric light plant, an 
electric car system extending to Amelia Beach, a sewer- 
age system, a handsr)me court house, privale and |)ub!ic 
schools, a city building in course of erection, two newspa- 
pers, a large constniction and railway repair shops, set- 
era! wholesale houses, two hotels, fourteen church(>s. a 
public library, miles of shelled and i-rraded streets shaded 
with fine trees and lined with beautiful residences. e:gnt 
secret and fraternal societies, railway eonnectious' with 
all parts of Florida and the North and \yest, steanisliip 
connections with Savannah and New York and Avtth ihe 
ports of Rotterdam, and Hamburg in Ewrop?. 

Dwellings and store buildings are in constant course 
of erection, but yet a vacant house or store is not to be 
found in the city. Fernandina's deep water, spacious 
harbor and extended water front, her shipping facilities 
for coastwise and foreign trade, are rapidly making her 
one of the largest export cities of the South. Fernandina 
is today the greatest phosphate shipping port on the 
American continent; l/er lumber shipments are increasing 
daily and in the handling of this commercial <on»nodity 
is second only to Pensacola. 



500 

Spacious wharves and buildings covering many acres 
are in course of construction to facilitate the naval stores 
shipments, and she is now exporting the bulk of the naval 
store products of the South. 

Fernandina is the only seaport on the \tlantic Coast 
where the port and town are so near to the sea, th3 docks 
and wharves being only three miles from the outer sea 
buoy. 

Fort Clinch commands the entrance of the harbor and 
extended additions and repairs will soon be commenced 
by the War Department, indicating that the port is of 
strategic value to the general government and intended 
as a coaling station and a port of calls for the navy. 

Fernandina'offers a igood field for manufacturing indus- 
tries. The low freight by water on raw materials and 
proximity to fields of productiou and the facilities for 
distribution of finished products by rail or vessel makes 
it a fine locality for manufacturing undertakings with 
certainty of success. 

We are much in need of a marine railway, and the ship- 
ping interest demands its construction. We need a cot- 
ton and knitting mill, a rice mill, a spoke, handle and 
stave making plant, a cotton seed oil mill, a hardwood 
saw and planing mill, a shingle mill, vegetable canneries, 
a sash and blind and furniture making factory, and a 
machine shop and foundry. 

A fine shell road eighty feet wide and about two miles 
long connects Fernandina with Ocean City, which is 
also reached by the Amelia Beach trolley line and the 
Seaboard Air Line Railway. Ocean City is situated ou 
Amelia Beach, reputed to be the finest sea beach of the 
entire Atlantic coast. It is an ideal resort for bathing, 
bicycle riding, and its unbroken and level strand, extend- 
ing for over twenty miles between land and sea, cannot 
be excelled for speeding of automobiles and other racing 
sports. Ocean City has two fine pavilions, a hotel, 
cottages, artesian water, electric lights, bathing houses 
and extended board walks and a trolley service daring 
nine months of the year. 

No better seaside resort can be found and its gi'owtK 
is assured. A finer and larger hotel will soon be erected 
to accommodate the summer population. 




o 






bC 



501 

We are accnstomed to regard good health as our normal 
condition, our people as prosperous, our soil as produc- 
tive, our surroundings as pleasant and comfortable, our 
climate as unequalled and our continued prosijeri^y aa 
almost assured. 

All we need: more laborers for our fields and turpen- 
tine camps, more farmers to extend our agricultural pos- 
sibilities, and more capital to help in the handling and de- 
velopment of our natural resources and the creation of 
needed industries. 

The principal agricultural and other products for 1902 
were as follows : 

Value - 

Corn, bushels, 12,220 | 6,i25 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 24,050 , . . , 12,275 

Live stock on hand in 1902 : 

Horses^ number, 793 31,352 

Mules, number, 40 2,055 

Stock cattle, number, 8,826 57,ti77 

Sheep, number, 3,002 4,335 

Hogs, number, 3,329 5,050 



ORANGE COUNTY, 

Orange is bounded on the north by X,!fke, Volusia and 
Brevard counties, on the east by Volusia and Brevard, on 
the south by Osceola, and on the west by Luke (bounty. 

It has an area of 1.315 square miles, or 811,(»()0 t;. res. 

Its population in 1890 was 32,584, and in 1900, (owing^ 
to the effects of the great freeze of 1894-5) it wa.^ 11,374. 
By this date it has fully recovered the loss. 

Of the 11,374 inhabitants, 7,347 were whites and 1.027 
were negroes. 

At the close of the school term of 1901 thero w«m'.? in tjie 
county 65 public schools, of which 49 were for whites and 
16 were for nogroes. 

This county is located in the heart of the Florida i>en- 
insular. Its lands are diversified and capal)le «.f pro- 
ducing a wide range of products. It was tli*' <-entor of 
the orange industry before the freeze of -1894-5 cut the 



^02 

trees to the gi-oiind. Since then the oi''ani>e croi-'S liave 
been niueh lighter than in former years. J>uc the trees 
are coming- again. Each year sees an increase iu the 
oranjge crop, and it will be but a few years before the pro- 
duction of oranges will again be a most important source 
of revenue. 

During the years that have elapsed since the orange 
ceased to be the main dependence of the peojjle more at- 
tention has been given to general agricultural and stock 
raising. A'egetable growing has become the soui'ce of 
about as much revenue to the people as was formerly de- 
rived from orange- growing. This branch of agriculture 
is receiving more and more attention each year, until the 
county is no longer dependent upon orange growing for 
the maintenance of its population. 

A fcAv figures relative to the production and shipment 
of veigetables from Sanford, in the northern portion of 
the county, will be a revelation to those who have been led 
to believe that nothing but oranges can be grown here. 
During the first six n.'onths of the year 1002 this place 
shipped 122 cai-s of celery containing 300 crates to the 
car; 30 cars of cabbage of 200 crates to the car; 75 cars 
of lettuce, of 400 crates to the car ; 12 cars of Irish pota- 
toes, of 200 barrels to the car; 3 cars beans, 400 crates io 
the car; 3 cars tomatoes, 400 crates to the car; 25 cars of 
egg plant, and 5 cars of cantaloupes. These shi[)ments 
paid to the tiansportation lines about |GO,000 for freight. 

Sanford Avas the largest producer of vegetables of any 
point in the county, and even there- the industry is new 
and only partially develojted. Other portions are devel- 
0])ing along the same line. There are many thousands of 
acres of choice vegetable and strawberry land distributed 
throughout the county, all within easy reach of transpor- 
tation, and only awaiting cultivation to become highly 
remunerative. Ten thousand truck farmers can liud 
openings here, and those who will work intelligently can 
become indei»cndent. 

SOIL, CHARACTER A^D PRODUCTS. 

The county embraces about thirty-fiye civil townsliips 
of land. It is diversified in quality and is adapted to 
vegetable farming, igoneral agriculture, fruit growing, 



503 

and j;Taziii.c;. INIost of the laud is coAWMod with iorests 
of the lonji' leaf southeni pine. IJiit it is interspersed 
Avith ]>raiiies and bodies of hardwood timber (known in 
Florida as hammocks). The hammoek lands are sjtron- 
ger and when onltiviUed produce* the heaviest crops. Tho 
low hammocks arid some of the i»rairies are well adapted 
to the growing of sugar cane. This croj) is cultivated in 
a limited way by many farmers, and the cane is worked 
into syrup of a liigh quality, which finds a ready market. 

The varieties of fiuits ada])ted to this section cover a 
long list. Oranges, piueajtples, grape fruit, lemons, 
limes, loquats, guavas. Jji}>an iiersimmons, peaches, 
pears, grapes, bananas and strawberries are among the 
fruits which thrive here. Of these the orange may be 
mentioned first as having occupied first ])lace in the past 
as a money making crop. Next in importance is the 
pineapple, fully as profitable, but not yet havijig attained 
such general cultivation. Orlando is the center jf the 
high grade pineapple industry of the State. Her pines 
are famous. It is claiuied that the world has not st»c- 
ceeded in producing a finer pineay)p]e than those that are 
grown in the immediate vicinity of this place. The j^ine- 
ap])le growers are making big money and making it easi y. 

Strawberry culture has not received the attention its 
importance deserves. This fruit is only cultivated in a 
limited way. The fruit begins to ripen liere in Deeeni- 
•ber, and the fruiting season lasts to June. The very 
early fruit commands a fancy price in Xorlliern markets. 
There are thousands of acres of strawberry land in the 
county awaiting cultivation, and ott'ering rich returns to 
those who will engage in the business intelligently. 01" 
the other varieties of fruits named an abundant supi)ly 
for home use and a good surplus over for the mai'ket can 
l)e easily produced. Fruit growing is beset with no 
greater diiTiculties here than elsewhere, while the advan- 
taige of being first in the market in the season is greatly 
in our favor. 

No portion of the North is capable. of such diversified 
farming, or can be made to yield as many dollars to the 
acre, oF can support a denser population. 

In the "North farmers are limited to one single crop 
per year, while here, owing to the length of the growing 
season, two and sometimes three crops can l)e taken from 



504 

the same land during the year. A winter crop can ?>e 
first grown, then a crop of quick growing spring vegeta- 
bles, after which the same land can be made to produce 
a crop of forage. Of course, with such forcing, the land 
must bft kept up with manure or other fertilizer, for no 
land can long withstand such a drain without the most 
liberal treatment. 

The population of the county according to the census of 
1900 was 11,374. Of this number about twenty-five per 
cent, are colored. The colored |)eople ai-e quiet, orderly, 
and industrious. There is no friction between the races 
here. 

The assessed valuation of real estate is $2,305,590 and 
of personal property, |495,S40. This is exclusive of the 
assessment ui)on the railroad and telegraph lines within 
the county, which amounts to |8G6,721 more, a total of 
13,668,151. 

The rate of taxation for state and county purposes is 18 
mills, of which 5 mills is for state and 13 for county pur- 
poses; 3 mills of this is for road improvement, and 5 for 
public schools, leaving only 5 mills for general county 
purposes. 

SCHOOLS. 

There are 07 public schools in the county. Two of 
these are high schools and forty four graded. There are 
sixteen colored schools in the county, separate schools 
beinig provided for white and colored ])U])ils. The total 
enrollment of ])upilK is 2,599. Ninety-six teachers are em- 
ployed at salaries ranging from .fl8 to |100 per monili. 
Of these 19 are male and 77 female teachers. The col- 
ored schools employ 26 colored teachers. The term of 
free public schools covers a period of six months. 

In addition to the public s<'hools, Kollins College is 
located at Winter Park. It is a thoroughly equipped 
and up-to-date college. In Orlando are two depomina- 
tlonal schools, Pell-Clarke Hall, «'onducted under the 
auapices of the Episcopal Diocese of South Florida", and 
St. Joseph A<*ademy, under the managemnt of the Sisters 
of St. Joseph, a Catholic order. At St. Mar^s, in the 
northern part of the county, is a small Episcopal schooS 
lor boys. 




>» 



o 



p 
O 
tp 

5 



50o 

Within the county are sixty-five churches, represent- 
ing ten denominations. 

The principal towns are Orlando, the county seat, with 
a population of 4,300; Kanford, population 2,940; Winter 
Park, population 800; Maitland, population 600; Apopka, 
j>opulation 500. 

TEMPERATURE AJS'D RAINFALL. 

The mean temperature and rainfall by months for the 
year 1901 is as follows: 

Month. Temperature, deg. Rainfall, inches. 

January 60.00 1.07 

FebruaW 58.6 3.27 

March 64.2 3.89 

April 66.8 2.47 

May 76.4 2.15 

June 79.6 11.81 

July 8.20 4.28 

August 80.5 13.18 

September 79.6 11.12 

Octob«?r 78.6 2.20 

December 58.05 1.28 

Annual mean 70.47 Total 57.26 

No mining operations are carried on in Orange County. 
Manufacturing industries are located in different parts of 
the county, and their number is increaned year by year. 
There is a large and well equipped starch fu.tory which 
produces starch from the roots of the cassava plant; a 
foundry and machine shop with boiler shop conne<;ted ; 
two ice factories, a dozen saw mills, four venter mills, 
nine or ten turpentine stills, producing rosin and turpen- 
tine for export, five or six wagon and carriage factories, 
and a number of smaller plants of various kinds. 

Two trunk lines of railroad — the .\tlantic Coast Line 
and Seaboard Air;Line — run through the county, afford- 
ing ample' transportation facilities for pr-esent demands. 
The St. Johns River — a navigable stream, forms the eas- 
tern and a part of the northern boundai-y of the county. 
River steamers afford a good service for eiiher passengei* 
©r freijght business. A trip on the St. Johns is one of the 



most delight fill that one can take anywhere. It is popu- 
lar with the large nimiber of ISorthern visitors who come 
to Florida to sjjend winter mouths. 

As shown by the books of the tax assessor there are 
williin Orange Coui%ly 16/JOO head of cattle, about 16,000 
of Avhicli are stock or range cattle that run on the wild 
range and get their own living throughout the entire 
year, it is safe to claim that these receive not one pound 
of feed during the year save what they get on the range. 
The other 1)00 head are kept for dairy and domestic [)ur- 
poses, and receive better treatment, and more civilized 
rations. The number of horses and mules is 1,300 ; hogs, 
5,300; and sheep about 1,000. In ispite of the sub-tropical 
climate and heavy rains, sheep thrive here remarkably, 
and appear to be always healthy and strong. They are 
subject to no disease, foot rot and scab are not known . 
here. It is believed that one of the coming industries 
will be sheep farming. 

Good range lands, suitable for cattle or sheep, can bo 
secured at tliis time as low as one dollar per acre, in 
large sized tracts. Other lands and those adapted to dif- 
ferent purposes command prices ranging from that figure 
to .f 100 per acre, according to situation, condition of culti- 
vation, proximity to the lariger towns and railroads, and 
adai)tability to the wants of the purchaser. In the item 
of cheap lands this section has a decided advantage over . 
the West. Let homeseekers make a note of the fact. 

AN IDJCAL LOCALITY FOR A HOME. 

It is taken for granted that every American is desirous 
of securing a competence for himself and i)roviding for his 
family if he has one, or for the means of support for a 
j>rospective one. It is also a legitimate presumptio?i that 
whether he is comfortably settled, or is prospecting for'a 
home, he is ahvays ready to favorably consider a removal 
to some other part of the country if he can be assured 
that the other place offeis fewer discomforts and hard- 
ships, better health, and Uiore favorable opportunities for 
acquiring a competence than that in which he is now lo- 
cated. 

The records of the Florida State Board of Health fo? 
the i)eriod of five years ending December 31, 1898, shows 



5U7 

» 

that tlie annual average death late of tlie high, interior 
portion of Florida is o.o4 })er 1,000 of population. Note 
well this remarkable ^hewing and then bear in. mind that 
Orange County is one of the healthiest spots in the in- 
terior of Florida. Here is the strongest argument that 
can be brougl.t forward in .support of the elaiui of Iiealth- 
fulness of this section. 

In industries the county is but partially developed. 
There are plenty of openings for farmers, and for wide 
awake people who may desire to engage in other avoca- 
tions, who have the wisdom to discern a business opening 
when it is in sight and the means to start and carry on 
new enterprises. 

To all such Orange County extends an invitation to 
come and aid in building up and developing a splendid 
section. The climate is almost ])erfect; living is chea]), 
industry reaps a^rich reward. Drones are not needed. 
If you cannot make a living where you are, stay there. 
You would probably do no better liere. Live men and 
women are needed, and such can find plent}' to do that 
will bring good returns. 

Within the county are about eleven hundred lakes of 
the purest and softest of water. Except 'in the case of 
the artesian wells and the few large springs all of the 
water in the county is as soft as nselted snow. This is 
true of driven and open wells, streams an.d lakes. The 
artesian well water comes from a lower strata and is im- 
pregnated with lime. Every housekeeper knows the de- 
light of having an abundant sujjply of ])ure, soft water. 
There is no scarcity of this commodity here, ^^'ells are 
easily driven and an abundance of good water is reached 
within fifteen to thirty feet. Open wells . are seldom 
deeper than twenty feet. Near Sanford, and on nearly 
all of the lower lying country, artesian water is --eached 
at a depth of about one hundred feet, and fiowinsi; wl^Ala 
are secured at a cost seldom exceeding one lunuLed dol- 
lars for a two inch well. There is no need of water bar- 
rels or cisterns. 

Within the county are at least half a dozen immense 
springs, any one of which furnishes enough watei- ti) turii 
a mill. These springs are little short of marvelous. The 
water comes from a low strata and is impregnated v.-ith 
lime and sulphuretted jgasses. That they possess medici- 



• 508 

nal properties of great value has been demonstrated be- 
yond all question. 

In the numerous fresh water lakes fish abound, and af- 
ford fine entertainment for disciples of the rod and reel. 
It will be seen that both land amd water are productive 
«f food for man. A lazy man can exist with little effort. 
The energetic and industrious one can easily secure a com- 
petence. 

An invitation is extended to everybody to visit this 
county and verify the claims herein made. There is room 
for thousands more and plenty of opportunity for all to 
get a foothold and prosper. 

The principal agricullSHral and other products of 1002 
were as follows : 

Value. 

Corn, bushels, 33,173 | 27,345 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 45^422 24,12S 

Syrup, barrels, 434 6,762 

Hay, tons, 2,049 26,007 

Valvet beans, bushels, 7,810 9,519 

Irish potatoes, bHshels, 9.401 19,307 

Tomatoes, crates, 35,024 35.194 

Celery, crates, 7,561 4l,7S5 

Cabbages, crates, 7,503 ^ 9,574 

lettuce, crates, 0,285 26.355 

Beans, crates, 3,604 4.700 

Oranoies, boxes, 80,143 123,306 

Grape fruit, crates, 2,637 0,403 

Pineapples, number, 38,590 28,107 

Cassava, tons, 1,000 4.631 

Live stock on hand in 1002: 

Horses, numl)er, 1 ,407 116.079 

Mules, number, 338 , 37,005 

Stock rattle, number, 21,61S 165.236 

Shee]). number, 1 .015 2,145 

Hogs, number, 7,642 13,543 

Poultry, all kinds, 40,629 . 23,733 

Dai ly pi'oducts : 

Milk, gallons, 333,766 80,070 

Butter, pounds, 57,969 16,549 




o 
o 

O 



p 

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c3 



509 
OSCEOLA COUNTY. 

This county is bounded on the north by Orange, eaat 
by Brevard, south by Polk, DeSoto and Dade, and on the 
west by Polk and DeSato counties. It has an area of 
1,827 square miles, or 1,170,280 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 3,lo3, and in 1000, it was 
3,444, of which number 3,013 were whites and 431 werd 
negroes. At the close of the school term of 1901, there 
were in the county 31 schools, of which 27 were white 
and 4 were for negroes. 

The county of Osceola, called thus in honor of the 
great Seminole warrior by that name, was laid off from 
Orange and Brevard counties in 1887. It lies between 
parallels about 27 degrees 15 minutes on its southern 
boundary and 28 degrees 20 minutes on its northern boun- 
dary, and because of its geographical position it enjoys 
a delightful climate all the year round. Its mean sum- 
mer temperature is 81.9 Its mean winter temperature Is 
61.4. The annual rainfall is 53.82. 

The surface of the country is level, relieved and is 
adorned here and there by ponds and lakes of varying 
sizes, shimmering from shore to center with the sparkle 
of crystal waters. The timber is chiefly pine; though 
small, rich hammocks of oak and hickory are not rare. 
Much of the land of the county is prairie, affording fine 
pasturage for the thousands of cattle ranging thereon. 

The prices of land range from 50 cents to ^1.25 
per acre, according to its adaptability to the purposes for 
which it is wanted, its fertility and its location. 

The leading industries are enumerated below : 

1. The raising of cattle and sheep — The shipments of 
the former from Kissimmee to Cuba since the Spanish 
war have been very heavy; but extensive herds of cows 
still roam through the woods and over the plains of 
Osceola. The profits of eheeep-raising are said to be in- 
viting, and the business is growing year by year. Sheep, 
like cattle, are left entirely to the bounty of nature for 
sustenance, winter as well as summer. 

2. Raising fruits and vegetables — These products of the 
grove and the garden are shipped, in their seasons, in 
large quantitiem. Oranges, grape-fruit, peaches, melons, 
squash, cabbage, tomatoes, beans, peas, beets, egg-plants, 



510 

sweet and Irish potatoes, and other fruits and vegetables 
thrive here under proper attention. Corn does well, but 
cotton is not grown in the county. 

3. The distillation of spirits of turpentine is assuming 
an ini}!orrant jfosition among the industries of the coun- 
ty; and to that purpose many of the pine lands are now 
devoted which formerly afforded only jjasturage for cat- 
tle. Some of these lands are now doing double duty — 
feeding tlie cattle and filling the stills. 

The population of the counfy is 3,444; 3,013 whites, 
and 431 blacks. 

Kissiinniee is tlie county seat, and is beautifully and 
pleasantly situated at the head of navigation on a long 
chain M lakes, canals and Vivers. The town has a popula- 
tion of 1.132, and does a proisperous mercantile business. 
As a winter resort Kissimmee enjoys an enviable reputa- 
tion, the large hotel and the smaller ones offering good 
cheer to tourists at reasonable rates. 

The transportation facilities of the county are sup- 
plied by the Atlantic Coast Line, the St. Cloud Sugar 
Belt, the Florida Midland railways; and by steamers on 
the chain of lakes, canals, rivers aforementioned. 
. The assessed value of alJ property real and ])ersonal 
(1901) is |l,363,185i30. The rate of taxation, for State 
and county pHi'poses, is 18 mills, of which the schools re- 
ceive five mills. 

Fro!u the county isuperiutendent's '"Annual Report" we 
have obtained the folowing data: 

Schools maintained (school year 1900-01) 3i. 

White schools (school yeaf 1000-01 27. 

Negro schools (school year 1000-01) 4. 

Salaries paid teacbers (school year 1000-01) .10.023.50 

Total OTirollment in white schools, (including sev- 
enteen (17) pupils previously enrolled) 012. 

Average attendance on white schools, (including four 
as average attendance of pui)ils previously enrolled) 578. 

Total enrollment of negro schools 80. 

Average attendance of negro schools GO. 

Value of school buildings, $5,780.00. 

The regular term was six months, but as soine of the 
schools were not taught full sessions the average terra 
was ninety five days. 



511 

These fijiuics liavo been taken fioui tlie ivjjort for (lie 
sjhool vear 1!»1I0-01. as before stated; tlie report fur the 
year just closed not having been made out yei. 

The Osceohi IIij.ih School is one of the best of its class 
in the State. It is located at Kissininiee, and 1a open to 
all the children of the county. It has a fa<;uUy of eight 
teachers and had an enrollment the last session o;- nearly 
four hundred boys and girls. The length of term is nine 
months, the city paying part of the cost of running the 
school. The building is a large, handsome srructure of 
modern design, furnished with up-to-date desks, slate 
blackboards, etc.. and is the property of the county. 

There are fifteen churches, of various denominations, 
in the county; though of these, probably two or three 
have no house of worship of their own. The gospel, how- 
ever, is sometimes preached in other communities not- 
withstanding the absence of an organized church. 

In a brief article like this it is not possible to set forth 
the advantages, industrial, coinmercial, eduofitioaal, and 
religious, of the county. Suffice it to say that the latch- 
string of Osceola hangs on the outside of the xloor, ami 
all good, law-abiding-, men from any part of the country 
are Avelcome to come and see for themselves. 

ThP principal agricultural and other products for 
1902, were as follows: 

Value. 

Corn, bushels, 8,800 ? 8,780 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, ir),0(jiO 0,100 

Syrup, barrels, 103 1,030 

Hay, tons, 70 1,530 

Irish potatoes, bushels, 430 430 

Tomatoes, crates, OGO 010 

Beans, crates, 1,130 1,130 

Oranges, boxes, 25,475 25,475 

Grape fruit, crates, 900 3,74b 

Live stock on hand in 1J)02 : 

Horses, number, 055 17.973 

Mules, number 31 1,370 

Stock cattle, number 29,710 118,081. 

Sheep, number, 8,050 8,050 

Hogs, number. 2,027 1,356 

Pf)ultry. all kinds, number 4,275 1.029 

V/ool, pounds, 18,800 3,900 



512 
PASCO COUNTY. 

This county is bounded on the north by Hernando, east 
by Polk and Sumter, on the south by Hillsborough and 
Mexico. 
Polk, and on the west by Hernando and the Gulf of 

It has an area of 750 square miles of land surface, or 
480,000 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 4,249, and in 1900 it wa? 
6,054, of which number 4,375 were white and 1,679 were 
negroes. 

At the close of the school term of 1901, there were 43 
schools in the county, of which 39 were for whites and 
4 were for negroes. 

By act of the Legislature, approved June 2, 1887, Her- 
nando County was dismembered, and the three counties 
Citrus, Hernando and Pasco were created out of the ter- 
ritory originally embracing Hernando. The territory 
now comprising Pasco County is the extreme southern 
part of the original Hernando County, and is by far the 
richest and most desirable portion of the territory inclu- 
ded in the original boundaries of Hernando, as is ^howD 
by the fact, that in the division of the revenues and prop- 
erty of the orignal county, between the three counties, 
Pasco received 42 per cent, while the other 58 per (;eut. 
was divided between Citrus and Hernando. 

Nearly all portions of Pasco County offer substantial 
inducements and attractions to the tourist, the sports- 
man, and the seekers after health, as well as to the immi- 
grant desiring to enter into commercial pursuits, or to 
engage in its production of fruits and vegetables, or the 
more substantial but equally profitable staples, cotton, 
•xjorn, oats, rice and sugar cane. 

We claim a soil of exceptional fertilty, and we chal- 
lenge comparison with the best in the State. The cli- 
matic conditions are peculiarly favorable under all cir- 
cumstances, while the salubrity of our surroundings is in- 
disputable. The orange, lime, citron, shaddock, grapo 
fruit, strawberries and watermelons are practical crops, 
giving excellent results and satisfactory profits. The 
:guava, banana and pineapple are successfully grown, bat 
we do not commend these as reliable crope. 



513 

Pasco County is one of the richest agricultural sections 
in South Florida. It possesses many of the characteris- 
tics of the far-famed and ^ittract.ve Middle Florida sec- 
tion, having high and rolling hills and clay subsoil. Our 
products are therefore more varied, embracing those of 
the tropical, semi-tropical and temperate regions, giving; 
to this county a superiority universally conceded, over 
the counties lyiCg south ot ours. Large quantities of 
corn, oats and other grains are grown in almost every 
part of the county. 

Besides its general excellence of soil, climate and topo- 
graphy, the county possesses several features especially 
attractive; prominent among these are the Graded and 
High School at Dade City, Holy Name Academy at Sau 
Antonio, St. Leo Military College, at St. Leo, together 
with a progressive public school system, all of which otter 
exceptionally fine educational advantages, whith, taken 
in connection with the fact that we have a law-abidiiig, 
sober, progressive and enterprising population, must 
commend Pasco County in no uncertain manner to the 
favorable consideration of homeseekers. 

The soil is of several varieties, and most of it fertile, 
yet there are portions of it possessed of no wonderful de- 
gree of fertility, still it is rarely so poor as not to give 
very satisfactory returns under energetic and intelligent 
culture. A perfect climate and almost phenomenal 
healthfulness is one of our chief attractions. 

Here, however, as everyw'here, the fiat of God "that in 
the sweat of his face man shall earn his living," is inex- 
orable. No mater how tempting and seductive the pic- 
ture, the idler and the drone fails in Florida, as he must 
fail anywhere. Men too frequently come to Florida 
dazed by the wonderful stories told and the roseate pic- 
tures drawn by real estate agents and other inter*»ste»I 
persons. Hence, though even possessed of an enterpris*- 
ing spirit and all the energy necessary to the undertak- 
ing, yet warting a sufficiency of ready money and means 
to accomplish their designs, they are disanpointed, be- 
come discouraged and discontented and are then ready 1o 
con(!emn the whole State of Florida and all its people 
simply because they have not weighed and fully coosid- 
cred the means necessary to the attainment of their ends. 

33 H. F. 



514 

To the industrious, patient toiler, to the frugal and thrifty 
gettler, who is willing to adapt himself to his surround- 
ings and profit by the experience of those who have 
acquired practical information as to the best modes of 
«ulture, success is certain. The man who migrates hither 
under the delusion that money grows on trees, or that he 
will soon become rich in the culture of oranges and vege- 
tables by easy, certain and inexpensive methods, will 
meet only with disappointment in Florida, as he must 
under the same conditions any and everywhere else in iho 
world. 

There are men in this county, and they are by no 
means scarce, who have met with great success in grow- 
ing oranges and vegetables, even on poor and sandy land. 
*rhese men came here but a few years since, poor 
cramped and impecunious, yet by pluck and energy they 
have not only realized a decent living for themselves and 
families, but are thrifty, prosperous owners of fine orange 
groves and other property, that render them independent. 
What these men have done under the most adverse cir- 
cumstances, others certainly can do under the much more 
favorable conditions that now exist, but those men owe 
their good fortune to their rigid adherence to the old 
maxim, "there can be no excellence without labor." The 
man who comes here expecting everything to grow as if 
by magic, without the exercise of the most intelligent and 
persistent effort, must be a fool, and there is no room for 
such in our county. 

It is not our purpose to exaggerate the capabilities, re- 
sources and advantages of this county, nor do we desire 
to conceal its objectionable features. The good features 
are so patent and so multifarious, the bad so few, that we 
would stultify ourselves were we to attempt to deceive or 
mislead. 

We extend a cordial invitation to all who are seeking a 
home in a desirable county, to come and see us. These 
will be heartily welcomed and hospitably treated, and by 
seeing for themselves, readily perceive that we have fair- 
ly and faithfully presented the claims of Pasco Countv, 
without arrogating to it anything it does not deserve, and 
disparaging the claims of other sections. 

When a prudent man contemplates a removal to a new 
and, to him, unknown country, the first and most im- 



515 

portant questions which present themselves are: Can I 
improve my condition? Can I make a living for myself 
and family? Is society good? Will I find good S(;hool3 
and churches? Is it healthy? To the question "Is it 
healthy?" we answer, Yes. No heallhier location is to 
be found in all the world thnn amid the rolling }>ine hills 
of Florida, of which Pasco County is a fair sample. Here 
we have no actue and inflammatory diseases, no pulmona- 
ry troubles, no sunstrokes. No epidemic disease has as yet 
invaded our territory, and there is scarcely a possibility 
of its ever doing so. 

As to our society, it is pleasing to inform the {mblic 
that we have citi?:ens from nearly all the states, citizens, 
too, of worth and intell^'igence, law-abiding and indust- 
rious, contented and prosperous. The society of Pasco 
County, therefore, compares favorably with, and is on 
equal footing with that of the old settled states in all Ihe 
elements of true manhood and all that constitutes good 
citizenhip. 

To the questions ''Can I improve my condition?" **Can 
I make a living for myself and family?" we answer, it all 
depends upon the man. If you are an industrious, intel- 
ligent, practical man, we answer emphatically, yes! Nay, 
more, you can build up and provide a competency for old 
age, more or less, as you succeed. 

We desire, however, to impress upon the home seeker 
the imperative necessity for him to be provided with 
ready money to purchase whatsoever land he may re- 
quire, and, in addition, a sum sufficient to meet all ex- 
penses of housekeeping and all other necessary incidentals 
during the first year, by these means only can he hope to 
attain the best results and reach that peaceful state of 
contentment so essential to ultimate success. 

DADE CITY. 

But a few years ago Dade City was a little insignifi- 
cant hamlet in the midst of the primeval forest. Now it 
has grown into a considerable town, with a stirring, bust- 
ling, enterprising population of 509 that imparts to it a 
metropolitan air. It is the county site and possesses pos- 
sibilities that at once forcibly impress the visitor. It has 
handsome buildings, such as hotels, new and beautiful 



516 

private residences, elegant churches, a magnificent graded 
and high s hool building, and enterprising^ i'joral and cul- 
tivated people. 

The gei^graphical position of Dade City makes it tke 
distributing point as well as the business and edura- 
tional center of a large and flourishing region, and uo 
point in South Florida, save the rapidly growing city of 
Tampa, offers more inviting opportunities to industry and 
capital. 

But we desire to emphasize our former statement, we 
wish for only frugal, thrifty, industrious immigrants', 
who will aid in its growth and development. We do not 
desire the idle, the vicious, the indolent, who only clog 
the wheels of progress. 

Dade City has a magnificent country tributary to it, 
and with her many advantages and exceptional railroad 
facilities as a business center, cheap living, inviting cli- 
mate, surrounded by a truck-farming, fruit-growing and 
food-producing country, with adjacent forests of excel- 
lent pine and cypress, and with her two trunk lines of 
railroads, there is nothirg to prevent it from becoming a 
considerable city even in the near future. 

There is no town in South Florida more easy of access 
than Dade City. 

GRADED AND HIGH SCHOOL. 

This excellent institution has just opened under the 
most favorable auspices, and it bids fair to rival the best 
institutions of learning in the State. The curriculum Is 
comDrehensive, the instruction thorough, and its methods 
modern and progressive. The building is of handsome 
arhcitectural design, oommorlious and well arranged *ut 
comfort and convenience. The corps of teachers is rx- 
ceHent, and some of them for thorough scholarship and 
literary attainments are unsurpassed, and for all th'iser 
elements that inspire love and respect in the youTig Miey 
stand prereminent. It is the pride of our people, and its 
benefits will attest its excellence. 

Prominent among the interesting features of Dade City 
ere its splendid stores, bank, and building and loan asso- 
ciations. 



517 

The trade of Dade City has steadily increased, until it 
is now the most prominent commercial point betwee?i 
Ocala and Tampa. Our merchants have demonstrated 
that the quality of their go.ods is equal to the besr. and 
prices as low as any. Hence, th^ merchants of Da^.e ''ity 
supply the wants of Ihe people living in portions of Sum- 
ter, Hernando, Polk and Hillsborough counties. 

Take it all in all, we commend Dade City in unmeasured 
terms to those seeking homes or investments, with rhe 
assurance that they will not be disappointed, but rather 
have reason to rejoice for the gc )d fortune which induced 
them to locate amid a sober and law abiding people, where 
social, moral and religious refinement predominates, and 
educational facilities are unsurpassed. 

SAN ANTONIO 

Is a growing and thriving town, situated in a very desira- 
ble section, and it promises, by reason of its igreat educa- 
tional advantages, to be a town of considerable promi- 
nence. It is located on the A. C. L. Ry., about five miles 
from Dade City. San Antonio was founded in ISSl, by 
Judge E. F. Dunne, a gentleman of distinction and y>ronii- 
nence, who established at that time a Catholic colony in 
that immediate section. There have been large acces- 
sions to the population, many of whom are men of cuJ 
ture and refinement, and these have spared no geniu.s nor 
labor in their persistent efforts to impart an impetus to 
every enterprise that shall send the colony along in the 
march of progress. 

The cardinal object of its founder. Judge Dunne, was 
to make it a great educational center, and by the most 
indefatigable and intelligent effort he has consummate! 
his plans. Holy Name Academy, under the immed'ato 
supervision of Mother Dolorosa, opened in Septeml>er 
last, under the most favorable circumstances. The 
Mother Superior is a lady of culture, refinement and 
scholarly attainments, i)ious and exemplary, who will 
surely make this institution one of the best in the State 
for the tuition of females. Undf^r the auspices of the 
Holy Roman Catholic Church, these |>eople are now erect- 
ing the largest and handsomest college building vm the 
State. When completed its portals will he thrown open 



51S 

io bov« and >\nmj; nn^n. ami a i^rivs of the mtvjt learned 
and aeexnuplishetl prv^^jisor^ will be en\pKm"Hi. To ik»- 
plo of the Oatholie fniih San Autonio olYors unusual m- 
duvVir»oniis and lo all othei>. ivsTv^r^ne** of ^H't or ereod, 
ihesse pci^ple extend a iH>rviial w^^Kx^tue. 

8>i. TUoiuas and l^rtUle ar^ nt\ir San Antonio, and iH)n- 
stitute a jKirt of the original vH>louy. They are Kh ated in 
a ft^riile and des^irable oountrv. \Yhioh will eonuuend itself 
to those who visit it. 

ST. LEO Mir.lTAKY COUJKGK, 

Conducted hv the Fathors of the *H.>n!er of St. B«^n©- 
diet." was foundtnl in Iv'^JV and. in ,lune of the same year, 
endowtxl by the Florida l.ejiislatun* with full eollejiiato 
po^Trs and privileju^s, 

St. Let> is situated on the AVest or C>ulf Coast of 
Florida, ISl) miKvsi southwest of .la«*ksouville, 4r> milefl 
north of Tampa and 5 niiUNS wt^t of l>ade CIin. The At- 
laiuio Coast Line runs solUI trains fn^iu ,laoksonvil!e to 
St. Leo. and the St^iln^arii Air Line fnun tlaek«onvill<v 
etc., to Pade City. The iXvan Steamship Co., New 
York to Savannah, Oa., and the Clyde Liiu^. New York to 
Jaoksouville, gn\nt lilK^ral rates to our student*. 

RICni\M> 

Is Kvatetl in that jvirt of Past\» County which many |M>o* 
pie repinl as the most attratti\-e and desinible portion 
within its eon tines. Its pivple an^ hospitable. Indus- 
trious, law-abidinj; and pn^jiressiw. For ajiriouUnnil 
purjH^sos and truok farnung this stv'tion is in all ivsiK\ts 
The espial of the best, while its oranue sxnnes for the past 
fifty years attest its exivllenoe as an ortin«ie s:rowinor sec- 
tion. Kiohland is promiiiently and advanta,cvH>usly sit- 
uate<i on the Atlantic Coav<t Line Haihvay. in the midst 
of the widely known and justly fanu\l Tuokenown ooun- 
Try. Ixinds in this section t an Ih^ purchastni at reasonable 
prices. This stvtion fun\ishcs txotable iustanct^ of the 
success of men who came to Florida determineti to win. 
We I'ommend it alike for its salubrious snrronndinjrs, fer- 
tile soil. hi>spitable ixvple. and i^iod schiH^ls. 



519 

ELLERSLIE 

Is a ftrnall town on the Atlantic Coast Line Railway, 
pleanantly Hituated in the mi<lst of am exr-ellc-nt oountrr, 
offering many inducements to settlers. Its people are 
thrifty, progressive and enterprising, hospitable and 
clever, who have determined to vigorously push their 
promising town for all It is worth. 

OWEXHBORO 

Is located at the intersection of the Seaboard Air Line 
and Atlantic Coast Line Railway, six miles north of l)ade 
City. It is very advantageously situated in the mid?;: of 
undulating pine lands, wifh some of the best hammock 
lands in the State adjacent. These Iand«. besides Irving 
amoPiq, *he very best for agricultural and truck growing 
purposes, ai*e specially adapt<'d to orange culture. Tobacco 
and sugar cane. The j^eople are refined, intelligent and 
enterprising. 

ABBOTT 

Ib a small village recently established on the 8. A- L., 
ten miles south of Dade City. Tte surroundings arc pe- 
culiarly advantageous, and under proper development 
this section bids fair to become one of the most prosper- 
ous and desirable in the county. 

PASADENA 

Is an embrjo town two miles south of Dade City on the 
ft. A. L. R. R. It ha.s a postoffice and stores, and the 
Withlacoochoe Land & Lumber Company have there the 
largest steam saw mill in the county. Wealthy and en- 
terprising gentlemen are largely interested in this sec- 
tion, and under favorable conditions will do much, to de- 
velop it. 

LACOOCIIEE 

Is a tovm located at the intersection of the A. C. L. and 
8. A. L. Railway. It has stores, postoffice, hotel, and be- 



520 

ing surrounded by a good country, populated with thrifty 
and prosperous people, it does a considerable business. 

ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILWAY 

Passes diagonally through the county, entering at north- 
east corner and running southwesterly to a point near 
Anclote. Lennard, Blanton, Chipco, Pasco, Drexel, are 
towns along the line of railroad, all of which otfer in- 
ducements to homeseekers. 

The principal agricultural and other products for 1902 
were as follows: 

Value. 

Corn, bushels, 25,513 $ 25.513 

Oats, bushels, 15,830 7,915 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 25,170 12,tj25 

Syrup, barrels, 1,941 19,410 

Field peas, bushels, 22,360 22.300 

Hay, tons, 2,005 29,250 

Tobacco, pounds, 30,000 6,200 

Velvet beans, bushels, 27,405 27,405 

Cabbage, crates, 5,600 19,140 

Tomatoes, crates, 8,895 12,455 

Ejgg plants, crates, 8,765 17,010 

Cucumbers, crates, 11,825 12.270 

English peas, crates, 25,010 26,9 10 

Beans, crates, 28,035 33.565 

Oranges, crates, 23,390 34,245 

Strawberries, quarts, 88,300 11.250 

Peaches, bushels, 4,515 5,175 

Live stock on hand in 1902: 

Horses, number, 927 55.330 

Mules, number, 35 35,205 

Stock cattle, number, 17,077 150,770 

Hogs, number, 5,951 8,985 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 14,813 5,905 



POLK COUNTY. 

This county is bounded on the north by Sumter, Lake 
and Osceola, on the east by Osceola, on the south by 
DeSoto, and on the west by Hillsborough and Tasco 
counties. 

It has an area of 1,9G7 square miles of land surface, or 
1,258,880 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 7,905, and in 1900, it was 
12,472, of which number, 9,523 were whites, and 2,94D 
were negroes. 

At the close of the school term in 1901, there were in 
the county 85 schools, of which 75 were for whites and 
10 were for negro2s. 

Polk County, Florida, occupies a position midway be- 
tween the Atlantic and the great Gulf, on the dividing 
ridge between the two, draining into both and is thert- 
fore the highest and best drained land on the peninsula. 
The climate is salubrious, the soil fertile, the seasims reg- 
ular, the people genial, hospitable and intelligent, the 
flora b3autiful, fish and game abundant, boating and 
bathing all that could be desired and as much good 
health to the square mile as can be found in any spot on 
earth. Eesident physicians and practitioners of expe- 
rience agree that what few diseases they find here yield 
much more readily to treatment than diiseases of like na- 
ture in more northern latitudes. 

SOILS. 

The soils of the county are of five kinds: hammocfe,^ 
high pine, flat woods, prairie and muck, mostly under- 
laid with a porous sub-soil of clay, marl or phosphate, 
adding greatly to their productiveness. Prices of unim- 
proved land from $1.00 to ^25.00 i>er acre ; improved 
property at reasonable prices. 

FIELD CROPS. 

In this class we are obliged to place not only *uch 
crops as are usually called fleld crops in a higher latitude, 
but alsjo all kinds of vegetables, as these are as much a 



522 

staple crop here aa are corn and cotton in Georgia or the 
Carolinas. 

Cora is here as in the older states a staple crop. Thi« 
crop can be produced with less labor here, perhaps,, than 
almost anywhere else, as the cultivation is mostly in the 
spring, before the v/ild grasses and weeds begin to grow 
rank , 

ifciugar cane does well on almost any Polk County soil, 
is extensively cultivated and is one of our best-paying 
crops, often yielding 200 to 300 gallons of syrup, or 
1,500 to 2,0(10 or more pounds of sugar, equivalent tu 
from |75 to |100 per acre 

Sweet potatoes grow to perfection hers, 100 to 400 bush- 
els being produced at very small cost. The}"^ can be left in 
the ground all winter and can be dug just as they are 
wanted. 

Irish potatoes produce well here and at a season when 
they cannot bQ grown elsewhere, hence fine prices are ol>- 
tained. They yield abundant crops on muck lands with- 
out fertilization. 

Rice is one of our most important crops as it can be 
grown on nearly all our soils. 

Oats, rye, millet, kaffir corn and teosinte succeed well 
here and chab-grass, cowpeas, velvet beans, peanuts and 
beggar weed are leading forage crops, yielding a large 
tonnage on nearly all our soils. 

Velvet beans and cassava. — It is only within recent 
years that much attention has been given to velvet beans 
and cassava, yet experience has demonstrated that in 
these two crops alone the farmers have an inexhaustable 
mine of wealth. Both are made between frosts, are not 
subject to risk from cold and will stand long drouth 
without injury. They are well nigh certain crops every 
year and, as the cost per acre in cultivating is very small 
they ai-e crops that appeal to every farmer. The velvet 
bean can be grown at an expense of not over |3 per acre 
and an acre will fatten two head of beef cattle, adding 
$10 to their value. It is equally valuable lu fattening 
hogs. Besides its feeding value, this plant, belonging to 
the LejETume family, easily stands at the head of nitrogen- 
gathering plants. It has been demonstrated that an acre 
of velvet beans contains in the vine, pods and roots, a 
hundred and ninety-one pounds of nitrogen, two hundred 



523 

and forty-three pounds of potash and forty -one pounds ot 
phosphoric acid, aggregating a commercial value of over 
|40 per acre. It thrives on the poorest soil, and lands 
that will hardly pay to cultivate can in tvNO years be 
made to produce paying crops of other kinds, the beans 
in the meantime jiaying a profit for fattening purjjoses. 
Cassava thrives on almost any kind of soil, is easily 
cultivated and yields from five to ten tons per acre. It 
can be sold to the starch factories at remunerative price«; 
but the greatest profit is in fattening stock for the 
market. When used in this manner it returns to the 
farmer $10 per ton, hence it is easy to figure the profit in 
cassava, as it can be grown for |-3 per ton. 

Cassava and velvet beans are cash crops, with no long 
period of waiting for returns to come in. They are free 
from the risk and danger from cold encountered in early 
trucking, inexpensive to grow, absolutely certain nine 
years out of ten, and the farmer who will take fifty to one 
hundred acres of land in Polk county and plant it in 
these crops, in rotation with such other crops as he cares 
to plant, and raise hogs and cattle. Is certain of a sure 
and sufficient income to live comfortably and more 
easily than the average farmer in the Northern States. 

VEGETABLES. '^ 

Under this head a long list might be given, but we will 
call attention to such only as are most important in PolR 
County at the present time. Tomatoes may properly 
claim the lead, being one of the most profitable crops we 
grow. Like early potatoes, they i-each the Njithem 
markets before there is any competition from other 
States, consequently good prices are obtained. The same 
may be si'd of beans, wl^ich follow tomatoes as a cloee 
second. Celery is also a success and pays well, olVering 
a rich field for the new comer. Cabbages and eggplants 
are also grown for the early markets and with success 
and profit. Cucuinbera, lettuce, cauliflower, okra, onions 
and beets are also grown extensively for home use and 
local markets. 

Strawberries have proven highly profitable in Polk 
county, and cantaloupes and watermelons also pay well. 



524 

FKUITS. 

The fruits grown in thiis county comprise an ainiovt in- 
terminable list. We grow, with equal success, the fruits 
of three zon?s: temperate, sub-tropical and tropical. Thts 
first are: Peaches, pears, plums, blackberries, blueber- 
ries, whortleberries, mulberries, grapes and strawberries. 
The second are: Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, limes, cit- 
ron, bergamot, shaddock, kumquat, Japan persimmons, 
loquat, figs, guavas, pomepranates, olives, dates and 
Surinam cherries. The principal tropical fruits are as 
follows: Avocado pears, bananas, cherimeyer, guavas, 
pineapples, mangoes, melon pawpaws, mammee applei?, 
eappadilloes, sugar apples and tamarinds. 

CATTLE. 

Our first settlers devoted their time chiefly to raising 
cattle. Some of the largest fortunes in South Florida 
have been made in the business, and it is now one of the 
leading industries of this county. It is hardly correct 
to say that we raise cattle — we simply round them up 
twice a year to see how they are succeeding in raising 
themselves. From start to finish, they live entirely on 
the range, and, except an expense of fifty cents a head 
for rounding up and branding and as mucTi mure for 
eelecting and delivering beef cattle, they do not cost their 
owners a penny. This is a better cattle country than 
Texas, New Mexico or Arizona in every respect but one. 
Our wild grasses are not considered iso nutritious as 
those of western Texas, yet they have the important ad- 
vantage of being gi'een all the year, while those in other 
States are dead during winter. Besides, we have no buf- 
falo gnats, foot rot, screw worms, scab or blizzards, 
which destroy thousands of cattle annually in the "Lone 
Star State;" nor have we any coyotes or ''loafer wolves" 
to kill young calves. Another great advantage is our 
close proximity to the profitable Cuban markets. 

MINERAL WEALTH OF POLK COUNTY. 

Kaolin, gypsum, marl and cement are believed to ex- 
ist in considerable quantities in this county, though little 



52C 

is definitely known concerning any of our resources ex- 
cept phosphate. 

PHOSPHATE. 

As this pamphlet is chiefly designed to give informa- 
tion to stock farmers, fruit growers, mechanics, and 
others who seek a home in the South to escope the vicissi- 
tudes of more northern latitudes, we deem it unnecessary 
to say more concerning our wonderful deposits of phos- 
phate than to mention them as a great reserve fund, as 
it were, to be drawn upon for the next hundred years 
for the enrichment of our soils and those of the world, 
(the phosphates of this county being shipped to Austra- 
lia, Japan and to every known country where farming Is 
carried on) and for the building up of extensive mining 
and manufacturing induistries, giving 'employment to 
thousands of busy workers, whom the farmers are expect- 
ed to clothe and feed. This and the adjoining counties 
of DeSoto and Hillsborough will control the pebble phos- 
phate markets of the world. South Carolina is the only 
formidable competitor and her mines are approaching 
exhaustion. We have eight mining plants now in suc- 
cessful operation. There are inquiries now being made 
for deposits with a view to putting in other mining 
plants, and there is still an inviting field for the invest- 
ment of capital in the further development of this min- 
eral wealth and in the manufacture of fertilizers. . 

Shipments of phosphate from Polk County, Florida, 
for 1891 were 2,925 tons, and the product has steadily 
increaised until the present time when it will probably 
reach 250,000 tons annually. Polk County is the center 
of the pebble phosphate region and contains more of thi« 
Talnable mineral wealth than any like area in the 
"world. 

BARTOW. 

THE CITY^ ITS LOCATION, ETC. 

Bartow, the eounty seat of Polk County. Is located on 
the South Florida division of the Atlantic Coast Lino 
railway, at the junction of three branches of the system, 



526 

and is 210 miles southward from Jacksonville. It has n 
population of about 1,983 of ''as indiistrious, intelligent 
and hospitable people as vei"e ever gathered in one com- 
munity." From a straggling village, not over two de- 
cades ago, it has attained to its present development iu 
population, trade, educational advantages, street im- 
provement, ornamentation, illumination, social and relig- 
ious privileges, municipal administration, drainage, san- 
itation, industrial enterprise, water supply, etc., and her 
people indulge a pardonable pride in contrasting their 
present exalted privileges with the annoying deprivations 
to which they were subjected during the earlier days of 
their residence here. 

Bartow now stands abreast with modern, progressive 
cities, in the possession of all the accessories of success- 
ful municipal administration, the preservation of the 
healtii and happiness of the people, and the safety of 
their property, such as a full city government, an oi'gan- 
ized fire department, schools, churches. Masonic. Odd 
Fellows and other secret lodges, hotels, restaurants, 
transportation facilities, long distance telephone, tele- 
graph connection, a national bank, an ice factory, cigar 
factories, wagon and carriage factories, opera house, 
lumber mills, printing office, weekly newspaper — The 
Courier Infortnant, — livery stables, dentists, physicians, 
and lawyers. ' 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

The surface of the ground around the limits of Bartow 
and within the limits of the city m noticeably diflPerent 
from that of many other sections of the State. There is 
none of that dreary, depressing barrenness so uninviting 
to the stranger and even to the resident elsewhere to be 
seen. On the contrary, the country roads and streets of 
the city, even when unpaved. are firm and smooth. The 
landscape views are cheerful, often picturesque, so that 
in passing along the roadways, either urban or rural, the 
traveler gratefully enjoys the natural beauties of the 
changing scenes, supplemented here and there by the 
artistic touch of human hands. Within the city the sur- 
face is more or less undulating, admitting of easy drain- 
age, and preventing noisome accumulation of debris. 



527 
SCHOOLS. 

Quite naturally Bartow highly esteema her educationaf 
advantages. In this important interest she can justly 
claim, it not pre-eminence, at least equal advantage* with 
the most favored localities in the State. Her Summerlin 
Institute ranks with the most advanced schools in the 
South, and her people proudly point to it as at once an 
achievement and an heirloom of priceless value. A dis- 
tinguished educator is in charge of the Institute, assisted 
by a corps of eleven exDcrieuced teachers. The building 
is of brick and cost $20,000.00. Tuition is free to all 
white children of the county the year round, and average 
attendance is about 450. Steps are being taken and 
money raised to erect an additional building on the in- 
stitute grounds, costing eight or ten thousa^nd dollars. 
Already a large part of that sum is in hand, and the bal- 
ance wil be ready when needed. The people of Bartow 
are keenly alive, both from local pride and philanthtropic 
considerations, to their duty an*^ interest in the matter 
of education of the youth of the eountry, and more cheer- 
fully assume tax burdens for that purpose. 

South Florida Military and Educational Institute was 
established in Bartow by an act of the Florida I^egisla- 
ture. The building in which it is conducted is handsome 
and commodious, and stands amidst a grove of Bartow's 
famous oaks on the outskirts of th^ city. One pupil from 
each county of the State, chosen by competitive selection 
is entitled to tuition free of charge and of all ex{)ense 
for board, medical attention, and incidentals. Pay stu- 
dents are admitted under appropriate regulations. The 
curriculum, while guardedly practical, is sufficiently lil>- 
eral to properly "round up" the educational equipment 
of young men entering the area of life and qualify them 
for successfully encountering the exigencies incident tu 
life's vicissitudes. The discipline, while firm, is paternal 
and considerate. It is not forgotten that boys are hu- 
man beings, not machines. An experienced educator, a 
thoroucrh discinlinarian and an accomolished gentleman 
is princiDal. He has able assistants in the several depart- 
ipents of the Institute. Two young gentlemen represent 
the Institute at West Point and two at Annanolis, chosrn 
after several competitive examinationft, a fact clearly 



52S 

€stablisliing its excellent training. About sixty cadet* 
are now in attendance. 

CHURCHES. 

There are seven organized churches in Bartow, to-wit: 
two Presbyterian, one Methodist, one Baptist, one Epis- 
copalian, and two Christian. The buildings in which 
thes3 several congregations worship are handsome, com- 
modious and comfortable. Accesisories to church worK 
such as Sunday Schools, Epworth League, Christian En- 
deavor, the Baptist Young People's Union, etc., are con- 
nected with the several congregations. 

HOTELS. 

There are several hotels, most of them comfortable and 
well kept, and an excellent opening for a much larger 
one. A site has been reserved for a large hotel, and 
special inducements will be offered for its erection. In 
all the lines of trade there are a number of well-fitted 
etores, which in addition to the strictly local trade, are 
lucratively patronized by the farmers and fruit and veg- 
etable growers, and by the large number of miners em- 
ployed in the nearby phosphate mines. 

WATER SYSTEM AND FIRE PROTECTION. 

Bartow's water system is another contributor to the 
comfort of the people and the safety of their property, 
of which she is justly proud. The plant is owned by the 
city, and is capable of meeting all present and prospee- 
live needs for many years to come, at rates at least 50 
per cent lower than in most cities. It was constructed 
in 1895 at a total cost of $14,396.72. The water furnished 
is superb, clear as crystal, soft, palatable and healthful. 
It is obtained from an artesian well 190 feet deep, and 1i 
lifted by aritficial force to an elevation of nearly 100 
feet, and empties into a tank holding 50,000 gallons at 
the rate of 285 gallons per minute. The elevation of the 
tank furnishes sufficient pressure for all ordinary re- 
quirements, but in emergencies direct pressure may be 



applied almost instantaneously. Since the acceptance of 
the system from the contractors, at whi-ch time, 12,325 
feet of mains had been laid, the service has been extended 
by nearly a mile and a half more of mains, thus greatly 
enlarging the area and multiplying the beneficiaries of 
this great boon. It is needless to enlarge upon the value 
of an adequate water supply in the protection of property 
and reduction of insurance rates. Without it a fire de- 
partment, however well organized, is practically power- 
less, a fact well known to underwriters. 

ELECTRIC PLANT. 

Fortunately for the city and peopl3, Bartow postponed 
street lighting, other than by lamps, until private parties 
were found who were willing to assume the expense of 
erPctipjT t^nri riinn-nf^ an eleotiic plant. Th^ ^^'vue f-^n- 
ished by the Bartow plant has proven satisfactory to the 
city and private patrons, both as to rates and efficiency. 

PAVED STREETS AND PAVING CEMENT. 

Bartow has between eight and ten miles of paved 
Etreets, and strange to say, ths paving was done at a cost 
of less than $1,0JK) a mile. The secret of this is the fart 
that within the city limits is a bed of natural cement, 
from which the material has been mined to do the work. 
This n;itural csnient is admirably adaj ted to street and 
road paving, is cheap and conveniently procured, and 
doubtipss will continue to be applied, as the convenience 
and financial condition of the city may permit, until all 
streets are paved. 

INCREASE OF TAXABLE PROPERTY. 

A*? an Pvid?noe th"t Bartow is fir^nlv p'^tablislipd in tlie 
public mind as a choice locality fnr busin?ss men and for 
lioTie and hpalth-f-prkers, thp fact is mpntinned. t'^.ar 
while in 1884 J^he city assessment roll showed a taxable 

po-sted UT> the handsom'^ s^in of $1.0nn.non. Thi'' gr-itify- 
in"' growth h'^s b^^f^n '^ttainpd. too. dur'n<T n nrr'orl within 
which the most fearful calamity that ever befel! a people, 
34 H. F. 



030 

(80 far as the mere destruction of property values is con- 
cerned, occurred — that of the disastrous freeze of ISUi- 
95. Some localities were lightly touched, and Bartow 
and vicinity was one of those fortunate spots. Here reac- 
tion soon set in, hope revived, and ere long the fruits of a 
recovered energy were visible, which grew in vigor witli 
the passing years. The orange trees in and around Ba>- 
tow are in good condition; they are rapidly recovering 
their pristine vigor and fruitfulness, and very soon the 
harvest, already large, will reach its antifreeze pro- 
portions. 

REFLECTIONS AND FORECASTS. 

The people of Bartow itrf» proaresKiv?, law-abiding, 
charitable and hospitable, and extend a cordial welcome 
to any one who may be seeking a home where they cau 
be free from the chilling blasts of the northern climate, 
where the weather is pleasant and agreeable the whole 
year thronch; where lienltli is ennal to, ir" not b<^ttpi*. than 
elsewhere in the world, and where the opportunities for 
making a comfortable living are as good as can be found 
in any other city of like size on the continent. 

Bartow is a temperance city; there has not been a bar- 
room here for years; the county is "dry," and though 
several elections, four perhaps, have been held since pro- 
hibition was voted, the result of each election ^as pro- 
nounced in favor of its continuance. There is very little 
probability that public sentiment will change. Bartow 
being an educational center, and the law-abiding anti 
pious character of the people well established, it is to 
be presumed that they will in the future continue, as 
they have in the past, to carefully guard the morals of the 
youth placed in their midst from a distance to say noth- 
ing of their own. 

Bartow is sure to liecorae one of the best and largest 
towns in the State, for the reason that itfi location is one 
of the prettiest and healthiest and that it is surrounded 
by isnch extraordinarily good grove, farming and garden- 
ing lands, together with the mining interests, and her 
unexcelled church and educational facilities, which have 
already bf^en referred to. With good, wholesome, piifo 
•water, and an elevation which gives this locality entiro 



o31 

exemption from malaria, there need be no further search 
made for a South Florida home. 

Inquiries desiring details as to any of the foregoinj* 
propositions can obtain them by letter addressed to 
either of the officials, to the Board of Trade, or to any 
busine£s or professional man, newspaper or private citi- 
zen, whose name may come into their possession. Sucli 
letters will be promptly and candidly answered. 

LAKELAND. 

Lakeland is situated in the northwest3rn part of Polk 
County, at the crossing of two railroads, at terminus of 
another, and within ten miles of a third, while a fourth, 
now being coTistnicted, if^ only a few mile:^ awav, and 
may at an early date be built into the city. The elevation 
above sea level is 225 feet. The waters of the Gulf are 
only 32 miles distant. The principal market crop here Is 
strawberries, though thousands of dollars have been re- 
alized from other crops, which will be referred to more 
fully in another place. 

The soils around Lakeland will compare favorably 
with any in the State, and it has been fully demonstrated 
that farming will pay here if properly conducted. A« 
much as |1,000 to $2..500 have been cleared on small 
tracts of land, not exceeding three acres in extent, and 
this on crops that are planted in September and finally 
harvested in the early part of May. This has been donft, 
too, without taking the necessary time from the orange 
groves, which a large majority of Lakeland farmers own. 

As a place of residence, Lakeland cannot be surpassed. 
The city is well lighted by electricity, and one of the best 
graded scHools in the State is located here. The popula- 
tion is 1,180 and the city has six churches and a bank. 
Mail and express trains arrive at short intervals from all 
points, and in the tourist season there are as many as 
26 passenger trtjins arriving and departing daily. The 
mercantile linos are well represented in all departments. 
Among the manufacturing enterprises may be mentioned 
a first-class ice factorv, sawmill, gristmill, and ricemill. 
Other branches are also renresented on a smaller scale, 
among them being two first-class bottling works. 



532 

As a tourist resort, the place has been well known and 
popular, being so greatly elevated, surrounded by niuis 
beautiful, clear waier laKCS — several of wnicii are in tne 
very midst of the city — and ranging in size from a few 
acres to many miles in circumference. These lakes are 
perfectly pure and clear, the water being used from ons 
to supply tlie drinking water for all trains. They abound 
in fisu, and one of tue greatest attractions to tourists \h 
the fishing. Small game, especially quail, may be found 
in abunoance. 

The streets and roads are well paved, the livery servici; 
is of a high order, and the drives among the lakes are not 
to be surpassed in beauty anywhere in the State. One 
€f the be^t hotels m the State is located herc», and in ad- 
dition to th;s are many smaller hotels and boarding 
houses, so tiiat all tastes and purses may be suited. One 
of the finest dairies in tha State may be found here aua 
its herd of Jeise\s aie a source cf great pitasure to all 
lovers of the bovine kind. 

Lakeland has two newspapers, the Polk County Newa 
and th3 Lakeland Sun, the latter being the pioneer news- 
paper in this section of the State. The city is now about 
to install a local telephone exchange, which v>^iil be con- 
nected by long-distance telephone with all points in the 
country. 

Lakeland is S!tuat3d iri the middle, so to speak, of the 
great vegetable section of South Florida. There were 
shipped from this place alone, the last spring (191)1), 
over 2,21)0 refrigerators of strawberries which contained 
two and two and a half bushels, respectively, aggregating 
in quarts about 154,001), which netted tire growers, en 
an average, twenty cents per quart. Besides this, there 
have been shipped from Lakeland this spring and sum- 
mer, 7,500 crate'^ of tomatoes and about 501) 1[)arrels of 
Irish potatoes, 800 crates of cucumbers, 1)00 crates of 
beans, beside* five or six car Ioar"'s of celery and i^umerous 
other vegetables in Inrge quantities. From one orchard 
in the corporate limits of the town, abaut 200 crates of 
y>eaches found sale in northern markets. At Galloway, 
a st-rtion only^fnur miles from here, fully as many straw- 
berries were shit)];ed. and from Kathleen, a liamlet six 
miles from Lakeland, about 1,200 refrigerators w°re sent 



533 

into the markets of all the principal cities eaist of the 
Mississippi. Besides these industries, general farming 
is carried on to a considerable extent in this vicinity. As 
fine corn may be seen growing here as can be found iu 
Georgia or Alabama. 

Five miles from Lakeland are located large shingle 
mills where hundreds of men are employed. There are 
fiix or seven turpentine and naval stores farms within a 
few miles of Lakeland, and the pay rolls at these various 
places amount to a large sum in the aggregate. The pay 
rolls of the railroads centering {;t Lakeland amount to 
nearly |1()0,000 per annum ; and the rolls of the phos- 
phate, lumber and naval stores industries, amount to 
many thousands more, making the circulating medium as 
easy as in any other small town in the South. 

WINTER HAVEN. 

This lake region covers about two townships, with big 
lakes, little lakes, deep lakes and shallow lakes in pro- 
fusion, all gems of beauty in their settings of perennial 
grean, all affording pleasure to the oarsman and sport to 
the Sherman, all tempering the breezes of winter and 
the heat of summer, all a never-failing source of delight. 

The section occupies one of the highest points of land 
in the State; there are no swamps, no fevers, no malaria. 
' The region posisesses good church and school facilities 
and it is possible to live at ease with one's self and hu- 
manitj', in ia golden age of friendliness and goodwill. 

The center of this section, reached by the Atlantlts 
Coast Line R. R., is Winter Haven. It is a delightful 
community of people from many States, who, some with 
money and others without, have evolved paying fruit and 
vegetable farms from the surrounding pine lands. 

There are nearly one hundred lakes in a radius of five 
miles of Winter Haven, almost every farm having its own 
lake front. The bright and shining jewel in this attrac- 
tive setting is Florence Villa. It is situated on a chain 
of sJx Ipkef- an<l T'O'-^sej^s^s its own stean^'^r and rowbonts. 
Originally a private residence, it has been transformed 
into a hostlery whose motto for guests is ''Make Your- 
self at TTonie ;'* w)>''r'^ the fruit 's fr?(» lo thf^ <:>-n«>sts ; where, 
upon its surrounding acres, the most advanced methods 



534 

or orange and grapefruit culture may be seen and facto 
learned in regaid to Florida's latest and oldest indus- 
tries. A liome wiiere hie may be spent in complete en- 
joyment for the time. 

Not only from a tourist's standpoint does this section 
offer the fulfillment of all wishes. The land is exceeding- 
ly productive and is responding nobly to the calls fo» 
general farming. Thousands oi dollars worth of toma- 
toes have been shipped this year, one firm realizing 
|1,200 from six acres. 

It used to be thought that oranges only would grow 
here, but June 4th, this year, at the home of a friend, the 
writer ate from their gardens potatoes, celery, peppers, 
strawberries, peaches, cantaloupes, cucumbers and lima 
beans. Later in the month from this section there were 
in addition, sugar cane, green corn, watermelons, pome- 
granates, ^weet potatoes, figs, squash, and soon the guava, 
Florida's apple, will be in market. 

One of Winter Haven's merchants realized |300 fyom a 
piece of ground not much over a quarter of an acre iu 
size, from onions, pineapples and lemon nursery stock. 
By planting with a view to the ripening season, it is pes* 
Bible to have fresh fruit every month in the year. 

Another large industry carried on here is the bejfutiful 
and business-like citrus nursery of thirty acres, called 
"Mascotte Grove." It is said to have brought a return 
of 120,000 to its owner during the last two years. 

The good roads make it easy to drive about and also 
to market products; the lakes offer recreation, be^vty, 
variety; the soil willingly yields a good living; the genial 
and ethereal climate lifts one out of the worry of life, 
and the never failing breeze gives ever welcoming kisses. 

FORT MEADE. 

Fort Meade has, from its earliest settlement, been a 
trading center of considerable importance, it being the 
supply point for a large extent of country, especially to 
the east and south. Here the traders meet the drovera 
from the outlying ranges ; here many a sale and exchange 
has been made, and here for many years has been the 
camping ground for people who come to trade from afar. 

The early settlers invariably selected the most fertile 



5ar. 

and productive lands, as they were compelled to secure 
their subsistance from the soil. 

Numbers of good families and influential people have 
bought and improved land here, and in the vicinity, since 
the railroad reached the town, and are well pleased with 
their choice and discrimination. 

People visiting Florida should certainly see this old 
and historic place. It is a naturally beautiful site to es- 
tablish a home. 

The town is pleasantly situated and e.mbowered in 
beautiiul old cak shade trees and orange trees, on the 
west side of Peace Klver, on tli.^ line of the Florida South- 
ern Railway', the depot of which is connected with the 
hotels and business houses by a street railway, thus fa- 
cilitating the receipts and shipments of freight, and 
making passenger travel rapid and cheap. 

Some of the advantages we may rightfully claim for 
this town and section are: 

1. Healthfulness, in point of which no town in the 
Union is more favorably located. The elevation is high, 
and natural drainage is aftbrded by Peace River and ita 
tributaries, all of which run rapidly southward. 

2. A fertile soil, producing vegetables and field crops, 
and the various fruits peculiar to the sub-tropical belt. 

Ths lands of this section are mostly first-class high 
pine, the top eoil of which is dark and contains a large 
percentage of humus. These lands produce almost as 
well as hammock, and are much to be preferred for 
healthfulness. Considreable bodies of both high and low 
hammock land are to be found here which are in great 
demand for gardening and the cultivation of rice, cai»- 
sava, corn, sugar cane, velvet beans, cowpeas, tobacco, 
and forage crops. 

Both high hammock and pine land was chosen at this 
place by experts for the establishment of a large tobaco 
plantation, and a two-hundred acre cassava farm is novr 
tinder cultivation here in a similar location. Cassava, 
for starch and stock food, bids fair to be a profitable, 
leading staple crop. It is predicted by many experts who 
have recently examined the farm, that it will be the 
means of inducing many settlers to permanently engage 
in the business. This product, in connection with cow- 
peas, velvet beans, and other field crops which grow 



53G 

luxuriantly here, produces the b*>st stock food procurable, 
and a larjje business will result in fattening caltle for t!ie 
market. There is a large market for cassava root for 
starch purposes, and contracts can be made per ton at 
remunerative prices to growers. 

The condition of the orange groves in Fort Meade and 
vicinity shows that they are at home, a fact that the sur- 
rounding groves will fully attest. 

Fine vjirictics of fruit i\vo boin<j; pln^itod. !>nd ihe pros- 
pects are exceedingly bright for a profitable future in this 
industry. 

3. Fort Meade figured early in the discovery and de- 
velopment of high grade pebble phosphate, and is in closa 
proximity to rich, undeveloped deposits; in fact, a rich 
stratum of same crops out almost in the immediate cen- 
ter of town. coTit'nuin.T in :> snnt'»P!ist'M-ly co'irsp across 
Peace River, where a large deposit exists. The overbur- 
den of this town deposit, hardened by exposure into a 
(conglomerate mass, is now being used for road, street 
purpo^'cs, and pavements. The material, when broken up 
and rollpd doAvn, becomes a solid ma«s, almost if not 
^qual to macadam, standing well in both wet and dry 
•weather. Consequently, we are having the best of roads 
in thiis section at moderate cost. 

THE FROSTPROOF LAKE REGION. 

Tn no other part of the world, perhaps, and certainly 
nowhere else in Florida, can be found so many natural 
attractions and possibilities for varied products as in 
this beautiful region of southeastern Polk County. 
Many have heard of this land oi lakes and hills, but for 
lack of transportation few have braved tlK- '*backwoo(h" 
for the j)rote(tion from frost, perfect adaptation to fruit 
culture, freedom from insects, the good hunting and tish- 
ing, boating and bathing, pure water, and perfect hoalth- 
fulness, all so haitpily blended here. 

For those who desire such advantages as are combined, 
the following facts are given and personal investigatiou 
most cordially invited : 

The Frostproof Lake Region forms the central and 
m;ost attractive portion of the famous "Excelsior Lake 



537 

Region of South Florida," only a few miles in width, 
reaching from Haines City, on the Plant System Rail- 
way, to Frostproof and onward, in a southeasterly 
course, for many miles. This region is also called "The 
backbone of Florida," because of its central location, 
great comparative elevation, and long, narrow form. Ita 
entire length is jeweled with countless clear-water lakes, 
all set about with hills and beautiful undulations, crown- 
ed with stately pines or spreading oaks, which are draped 
with airy robes of Spanish moss. 

Our smaller lakes are Lake Biscuit, nestling alone 
among the hills, yet teeming with trout and small fish; 
LpVs Ida. bnrderpd with large live-oaks; Hickory Lake, 
with its tall hickory trees, and Silver Lake, one of the 
mo't beautiful small lakes in America, a perfect geni of 
purest crystal water, set in a circle of clean, white sand. 

Lakes Clinch and Reedy, half a mile apart, are sepa- 
ifated by a beautiful body of land, adorned with T>ine and 
oak and vinr's of vv^ild grape. At this point, and fronting 
on both lakes, is situated the town site of Frostproof, 
one of the most charming spots in South Florida. Lake 
Clinch, with its open shores and clean, sandy beach, is 
a picture of perfection, while Lake Reedy, border3d by 
miles of rich hammock and cabbage palms, has a truly 
tropical appearance. Lake Reedy's broad exj)nnse is th« 
starting point for hunting and fishing parties, down 
Rsedy and Livingstone creek to Lake Arbuckle. thence 
throuoh Arbuckle Creek to Lake Istopoga and onward 
via Kissimmee River to the mighty Okeechobee, the mys- 
tic Everglades, the ancient Indian mounds on Caloosa- 
hatchee River, and out and away to the Ten Thousand 
Islands via Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf. Largest of 
all is far-famed Crooked Lake, its water level at the sur- 
prising height of 132 feet above the sea. It runs far into 
the flat woods to the westward and cuts deep into the 
"Backbone Ridge" on the east. The hills along its east- 
ern border rise terrace-like, one above another, reachinjj 
elevations of more than 150 feet above the lake. Midway 
on the east is a land-locked harbor, feautiful beyond de- 
scription. A little to the north, extending half a mile 
into the lake, is a narrow neck of land, its decoration an 
evertTPcn forest, known as "Ouy Hammock," a most de- 
lightful, park-like spot. From this point the lake reaches 



538 

out its graceful arm eastward along the northern base of 
the hills above described, affording excellent protection 
from winter's chilling blasts. Between this protecting 
arm and the harbor "Golden Gate" is a magnificent site 
for a town or city, and on the Uorth a lovely site for win- 
ter or summer homes. The northern site is known as 
"Inter-Ocean," the southern as ''Inter-Ocean Heights." 

Before the v/intry winds can reach these central hills 
of the Frostproof Lake Region they must first pass over 
the lakes in northern Polk County and finally cross the 
crescent form of Crooked Lake. The results appear ia 
our large budded orange and grapefruit trees, which have 
survived all the freezes without other protection. From 
Haines City to Lake Livingston, a distance of thirty 
miles, is a continuous underi^tratum of red clay, rich in 
oxide or iron. Its good effects are plainly apparent in 
the dark green of the forest timber, and especially in 
grape vines and fruit trees. 

Complete success has been attained in fruit culture. 
Wild grapes grow and bear profusely in the open woods, 
and make excellent grafting stock for the finer kinds. 
Peaches produce abundant crops, shov/ing perfect health 
and freedom from insect enemies. Pineapples are a com- 
plete success, and figs reach full prefection. The citrus 
fruits are our stronghold, having proven highly profita- 
ble on a large scale. Haines City has flourishing and 
prolific groves, and at Waverly excellent progress has 
been made in the culture of pineapples and citrus fruits. 
Some growers at Frostproof have, for the past three 
years, had heavy crops of grapefruit, for which fancy 
dealers, hotels, and family customers have paid $9, $10, 
and $11 net per box, and proportionate prices for buddeCI 
oranges, fancy oranges having sold this season (1901) at 
$9 net pnr box. Thr>se are extreme prices, but cut them in 
halves, or even in quarters, and we can still make money 
from fruit in this favored region, despite the haul of 18 
miles to Fort Meade, our nearest railway station at the 
present time. 

The principal agricultural and other products for 1902 
were as follows: 



539 

Value 

Corn, bushels, 97,494 f97,494 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 101,039 49,903 

Syrup, barrels, 2,200 30,959 

Field peas, bushels, 4,980 7,98W 

Velvet beans, bushels, 49,020 49,020 

Tomatoes, crates, 22,092 22,920 

Watermelons, car loads, 39 4,750 

Oranges, boxes, 137,000 137,000 

Gx'ape fruit, crates, 3,2GG 44,{)7l 

Strawberries, quarts, 200,450 26,950 

Live stock on hand in 1902: 

Horses, number, 2,170 109,120 

Mules, number, 474 51,135 

Stock cattle, number, 53,597 3G0,3>;3 

Hogs, number, 14,315 14,315 

PviUltry, all kinds, number, 30,188 Il,i7i5 



PUTNAM COUNTY* 

This county is bounded on the north by Clay and St. 
Johns, Eouth by Volusia and Marion, east by St. Johns, 
and on the west by Alachua, Marion and Clay counties. 

It has an area of 772 square miles of lynd S'ufaoe or 
494,080 aciTs. 

Its population in 18S0 was 11,180 and in li)()0 it was 
11,041, of which number 0,017 were whites and 5,024 weix3 
negroes. 

At the close of the school term in 1901, there v.ere in 
the county 67 schools, of which 43 were for whites and 24 
were for negroes. 

Putnam County is south of the 30 degrees of latitude 
and east of 82 degrees of longitude. It is eighteei: miles 
distant from the Atlantic on the east, and sixty-tive miles 
from the Gulf of Mexico on the west. Its (tliniate Is n.ild 
and invigorating the year round, the brsezps both from 
the ocean and the gulf exerting an influence that produces 
uiiexcei)tional winter and agreeably cool summer weather. 
It is a rare thing that the thermometer rises abovo 90 de- 
grees in the summer, or falls below 42 degrees in the win- 



540 

ter. The official records show an average of 78 degrees 
for the summer and 60 degrees for the winter. 

Putnam was organized in 1847 and has since become 
isomethirg more than a geographical expression. Its suc- 
cess in material progress, permanent wealth -and an in- 
dustrious and settled population has been steady and un- 
excelled by any other portion of the State. A section 
almost unknown to geography until its organization and 
divided by a river almost unknown to commerce, it ha*i 
since come to be one of the foremost counti&s in the 
State. ^ 

Itts transportation facilities have kept pace with its 
other improvements, until at present it has railway, tele- 
graphic and ocean steamship communications with all 
parts of the country. 

Notwithstanding the favorable progress of the pasr, it 
is believed that Putnam County has but reached the intro- 
du< t.ion of the splendid progress that is to speedily follow 
and whi(h promises to be aided by the capital and energy 
of so many northern and foreign born citizens. Its com- 
mercial Intercourse has been full}' emancipated from all 
restrictions, thus placing it on an equal footing with the 
most favored portions of the country in point of transpor- 
tation. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

Putnam County has a peculiar topography. No other 
county in the State comprises such various, so many and 
such strongly marked natural divisions. The river St. 
Johns divides the southern portion and skirts the balance 
on the east for thirty miles. The southeast part is again 
divided so as to form a peninsular twenty-five miles Avide, 
lying between the river St. Johns and Lake Crescent, the 
latter a tributary to the river through a navigable creek. 
This I'Pninsular is composed of high rolling hills, beauti- 
ful valleys, picturesque lakes, dense forests, runied ridges 
and low marshes. Lakes Como, Broward and Margarette 
and Crystal Lake, very considerable bodies of water, sur- 
rounded by high elevations, are situated in this peninsu- 
lar. Dunn's Creek, a deep and navigable stream, con- 
nects Lake Crescent with the St. Johns. North of Dunn's 
Creek for five miles the land takes a sudden rise to an 



541 

elevation of from 30 to 100 feet above the level of the 
river. This section embraces the San Mateo district, an 
area of fully nine square miles. The remainder of tin? 
country on the east side of the river is undulating uni 
flat, but generally high enough for cultivation. A tract 
of land opposite Falatka and running north is "hammock 
and covered with orange groves. 

The much greater portion of Putnam County lies ou 
the west side of the St. Johns, and is also sub-divided by 
lakes, creeks asd a navigable river. The southern por- 
tion, on this siJe of the river, is high rolling pine and 
bottom land, islands and swamps. The famous Ocklu- 
waha river runs through this section. The low and high 
pine lands and the islands are densely timbered. The 
Ocklawaha is a navigable stream, although exceedingly 
tortuous in its course. It is a channel formed through a 
dense cypr?ss swamp, suddenly issuing into the St. Johns 
opposite Welaka. North of the Ocklawaha, following the 
St. Johns, the country is rolling, s'ave that part close to 
the water's edge; and in many instances the land run- 
ning to the river is quite high. 

In the western part of the county the topography as- 
sumes another and distinct form of character, almost un- 
like any other portion of the county except some parts of 
Fruitlp.nd peninsula. One nart of it, from 10 miles long 
to 15 wifTe, is an elevated ridge fr'im 150 to 200 feet above 
the level of the ocean. The surface may fa'rly be de- 
scribed as consisting of hills and lakes. The hills ave 
gentle elevatiors, rising often to the height of GO feet 
above the lakes. The lakes are very numerous, and are 
from a few acres to several square miles in area. Ther<^ 
are also in this part of the county prairies and swamps, 
but not extensive. The lakes are of cl<^ar pure v/ater, o:\d 
the country is generally heavily woo'Vfl. The elevfttinn 
above low ti'> of the ocean jU FTawthorn and L'^<"k!onRa 
statVns on the railroad running from Waldo to Ocila, Is, 
for the first, 150, and for the second place, 60 feet. 

The north nart rf the conntv is ro-n^^h an^l ro'linj/ for 
nrarlv its entire extent. On the margin of :he St. Tr.]»n3 
on the west sir]e the land is several fret nbnvp hiph \val"r 
mark: from th" north bound.",ry line to Palatka. md from 
this point to Fort Gates, a distance of thirty mih's wuth, 
the margin is low, save in a few instances, and in many 



542 

places, especially in the region of the Oeklawaha, sub 
ject to overflow. From this last place to the southern 
boundary line the county is again low, but densftiy tin*- 
bered. Hrg Island, that has an area of nearly 300 acres, 
at the entrance of Lake George, is too low for cultivation, 
but has a fine growth of timber; and Drayton Island, a 
short distance from it, embracing an area of nearly 2,000 
acres, is from four to fifteen feet above the level of the 
river, and aleo well woodel. The face uf this island 'H 
low, nearly level. The margin from 300 to 1,200 foi't from 
the water is ''hammock," but the interior is flat pine 
woods. The lards embraced on the margin of che main 
land in this vicinity of Lake George and the St. Johns 
river are generally heavily timbered, or were befora they 
were brought under cultivation, but are not usually ele- 
vated to any degree, yei are mainly high enough for cul- 
ture. High pine lanf-s lie back from one co three miles 
from the river and lake, their surface being undulating 
and interspersed with numerous clear water lakes. 

The Rt. Johns river at the southern boundary of the 
county is four miles wide, measured across the lake, grad- 
ually narrowing in its course until near Palatka, a dis- 
tance of thirty-five miles, where it is about one mile wide. 
But from this point on it again expands until it reaches a 
width of fully three miles at the northern boundary line. 
Its progress is winding, often suddenly deviating to the 
right or left in its course, but not to such an extent as 
farther south. The ocean-tide is slightly felt as far 
south as Lake George. 

RIVERS A^D PERMANENT STREAMS. 

The rivers ai'e the St. Johns for BO miles, following 
(usually called Dunn's creek,) tributaries of the St. 
its course; the Ocklawaha, for 20 miles, and Deep river. 
Johns south of Palatka. The creeks are Little Orange 
in the southwestern portion of the county, a tributary of 
the Ocklawaha; Deep Creek, near Federal Point; Rice 
and Etoniah creeks, entering the St. Johns north of Pa- 
latka ; Sulphur creek at Mt. Royal ; P>ig Muddy near Fort 
Gates; Mill creek nearly opposite Palatka; Cow ereek 
near Orange Mills, rmd other small streams. All of tli^siC 
creeks are permanent, but not navigable, and all of them 



543 

ore very large streams in wet weather, and never become 
dry during urough(s. Iheir meauderings are i>eculia;% 
but the flow of water is constant. Some of them afford 
good water power. Little Orange creek has several 
mills on it, and a number more could be added. Sim's 
creek i-.-ues fiom a de3p ravine near Palatka, and is prob- 
ably the purest and softest water in America. As ueces- 
8ity shall require it, will be utilized and introduced 
through pipes into the city of Palatka for domes^^'.c uses. 
Every fall there is a freshet on the Upper St. Johns, and 
sometimes it is high enough 1o raise the level of the river 
eight and ten feet, tloodiug a large tract of country, but 
rarely causing any serious damage. 

LAKES— SCENERY. 

Lake George is the largest of the lakes in Putnam, but 
not all of it is embraced A>ithin the county, only the 
northern half. It is 20 miles loug by 10 miles wide. The 
counties of Marion, Oraug*, Volusia and Putnam foria 
its boundary. It is a magnicent sheet of water, as beau- 
tiful as any in the world, not excepting its namesake in 
the State of New York, and has attracted the attention 
and admiration of thousands of tourists. The lake is 
skirted by feitile banks, and on the east and west sides 
has elevated and romantic surroundings. On the north- 
ern and southern extremities its banks are low and fiat. 
but bordered with a wealth of foliage ditficult to »find 
anywhere else so luxuriant. The contour of the lake is 
fine. Drayton Island, just inside the north entrance. 
with a channel on either side, is an attractive scene, and 
fitted admirably for homes and orange groves. Lake 
George, situated as it is, thirty miles inland, is rarely 
ever visited by hurricanes or cyclones; yet it is a rare 
thing that its waters are quiet for a whole day at a time, 
the sui-face being atgitated by southern breezes. Its surf 
is often grand. 

Other lakes in the county afford much beautiful scen- 
ery. Crescent Lake, on the east side, by the imdulating 
character of the land surrounding it, not only presents a 
ri< h variety of scenery and foliage, but a wide extent and 
grandeur of landscape. There is an entire absence of 
monotony. Como is another lake situated in that part 



of the county. It is one mile wide and three in length — 
a beautiful, blue, sunny expanse, not in the least uU 
worthy of its Italian namesake. Its waters are crystal, 
clear and pure. It is five miles from the St. Johns river. 
Lakes Broward, Crystal and Marguerite are also situare.I 
in this vicinity, three charming scenes of clear, still wal^cr. 

The lakes in the western part of the county are nu- 
merous. Among the larger ones is Lake Claudia, at Mc- 
Meekin, on the Atlantic Coast Line Railway. The water 
of this lake is deep and clear, and affords an abundant 
supply of the finest fish. The banks are high and roman- 
tic, tue coves and peninsulas are delightful, and it is des- 
tined to become the finest spot on the road. 

The remarkable feature of the scenery of Putnam Coun- 
ty is the broad expanse and rich foliage on the banks of 
all its lakes and streams. This is the characteristic 
throughout the whole county; but besides this there are 
many other striking peculiarities and features, both "-ub- 
lime and beautiful, which (an hardly be enumerated here, 
but which cannot be surpassed in their kind in any other 
country. Absolute isolation is a feature, and sylvan soli- 
tudes are numerous and a marvel of their kind. There 
are hundreds of nooks and corners, and woody dells, fuJl 
of enchanting picturesqueness and impressive beauty. 

Surrounding all the lakes are ])arks of majestic pines, 
high ridges and gentle valleys. There are also uumerous 
natural meadows which are covered in winter and ^j.riii/^ 
with brilliant f owers and grasses. The yrater co.irses 
are all lined with trees, bushes and vines of vavicus 
kinds, and the forests are composed of the largest and 
]i:ost j^raceful evergreens. All the lakes are beautiful, 
juid when the hand of cultivation shall have touchoLi gow- 
ornliv t'-f^ elevated la^nls snrroimdinfir them, a more lively 
^nd inviting siene will not be found beneath the sky. 

SOIL— PRODUCTIONS. 

Tho lands of th*^ county jire classed a'^ high and low 
hammock, pine antl swamp lands. The last are the most 
d^rrblv rich hnds in th'^ IJnio-i. Bitrh-ncr if^ indisoe^-sa- 
ble ■'^ nreTtnri'"!"" t'^^^m fov nrofitpble c11Ttiv^'^''oT> t th<^n tlu'v 
produce a succession of luxuriant crops with the greatest 



645 I 

regularity land vigor. They are especially adapted to 
«xigar cane and have been known to yield four hogshead to 
the acre, which is more than twice the average of Louiat- 
iana productiveness. The characteristic of the hammook, 
as distinguished from the pine land, is, that it is covot-e^ 
with a growth of hard wood timber and dense underbrush, 
while the latter has little, if any, undergrowth. Wherever 
the land is not so low as to be called swamp, producing an 
underorowth of shrubbery and small trees, it is called 
hammock. This is again distinguished by high and low 
hammock, the first being on high ground. These 1 and? 
are dispersed throughout the county, varying in extenf^ 
The lower hammo( ks require ditching and are adapted 
for crrowing ffereral fnrm crops and many other valuable 
products. The high liamn 0( Is are romposed of very rich 
soil, and produce with intelligent cultivation all the crops 
of the countrv. They require no other preparation than 
clearing and plowing and are greatly sought after by new 
settlers who have money. The low hammocks are ex( el- 
lent ranges for ' attle, Ji'tfording abundant pasturage, and 
when drained and the S'oil fairly subdued, they make liie 
very best land for growing vegetables. The pine 'ands 
are divided between hi,gh. rolling, and low flat woods. 
Both are fertile to a more or less extent, but only The 
first are at present generally cultivated. Of the two they 
are preferred, being more easily brought under cultiva- 
tion. The pine lane's are getK^rally cleared by girdl'.ng 
the larger trees, sometimes felling and burning them at 
once, and cnttirg awav the smaller ones. The follow- 
ing year nothing remains but the trunks and dry bran* hea 
which offer no fnrtlier iT"'"r'i'..oT>f fp f^■n vn^« -f )bp sun. 
The soil of the pine woof's is sandy and in fertility is re- 
markable. Some distrirfs have vieHed good crops during 
years of successive cult'vat'on withort the ai'^ of ma- 
nures. This is. however, only true of th" bpst pine lands. 
As hio;h as 400 jmunr^s of Sea Islnnd seed Cotton have been 
raised to the acre. The se-or-rj p^rn-'e of T>ine land is v,'(dl 
adapted for rais'irg si'-al hetuT). rnt^ie n^rt jntf*. 

The gen?ral character of the arable lands in the south- 
western part of the county Is n san-^y suD^rstructure with 
a clay subsoil. The clav sub^'tr.'itnm rnvoiy annroathf^s 
the surface nearer than two feet and sometimes rannor be 

35 n. F. 



546 

found nearer than ten of the surface. The, color of the 
clay is usually red, redish and yellowish, but sometimes 
gray and white. The superstratum embracing the soil is 
generally of a finely powdered sand, with a slight admix- 
ture of clay and at the surface u)ixed with humus, varying 
in depth from one to several inches. 

The original forests are hammock and pine. The ham- 
mock growth consists of live and other kinds of oak, gum, 
bay, magnolia, hickory, etc. The pine consists chictly of 
yellow pine and sometimes an undergrowth of oak and 
persimmon. 

The fertility of the hammock, compared with the pine 
lands, is about double in most cases. 

The first and second class of those lands produce well 
when new, without manure. The products are sea island 
cotton, corn, sugar cane, tobacco, oats, rye, rice, arrow- 
root, cassava, pinders. potatoes, chufas, field peas, mel- 
ons, etc. Early vegetables are producoil in great variety 
and in abundance when the soil is well fertilized. All 
the fruits are cultivated. Oiiinges, lemons, limes, figs, 
grapes, pomegranates, peaches, plums, blackberries, 
s^t raw berries, goiavas, bananas, shaddocks, citrons, etc., 
grow to grea.t perfection and in very great quantities. 

Putnam County is well adapted to fruit growing. The 
characteristics of the county for fruit growing are. rapid 
and vigorous growth,, comparitive freed^im from diseases 
and insects, only moderate injury from severe cold, a cir- 
cumstance that occurs only at long intervals, the heavy 
yield, the good keeping and shipping qualities and the line 
shape and flavor of the fruit. 

Lands can be bought of individuals at reasonable prices 
Navigation is ample and convenient in all parts of the 
county. The St. Johns is the principal stream, the 0«^k- 
lawaha being next in importance as a means of , commerce. 
In the western part of the county the Peninsular railroad 
alTords convenient facilities. 

The Atlantic Coast Line Railway runs from the city of 
Palatka to Gainesville, through the highest and richest 
land in the State. Cotton is extensively raised in the 
county, and is now the main field crop. For cotton and 
general farming industry the western portion of this 
county has no superior. The proportion of hammock 
land, cleared and uncleared, is one-fifth of the arable 



547 

land.. The land is well wooded and many trees, admira^: 
ble for their height and lumber, grow in all directions.; 
The pine lands have excellent timber for building pur-; 
poses. The depressions between the hills are very fertile. 
and capable of supporting a large population. The quali- 
ty of the water throughout the county is good and the sup-, 
ply inexhaustible. For salubrity, the climate can be no. 
where surpassed. 

MDsERAL SnUNGS. 

Another feature of Putnam is her mineral springs. 
They are the wonders of the State. The boiling ones are 
especially interesting. Their waters are saline and 
sulphur. They are often near each other and differ as 
much in taste, odor and color as in temperature and 
pellucidness. The ground around is saturated with sul- 
phur, sulphate of magnesia, alum and various salts. The 
waters of several of them are reputed excellent for curing 
cutaneous and chronic diseases. The Sulphur Springs of 
Mt. Royal and Welaka have often benefited people v»ith 
rheumatism. 

TEN THOUSAND LAKES. 

The county has — it is said — ten thousand lakes, some 
of them very large, as, for instance. Lake George, which is 
ten miles wide and twenty miles long. The land sur- 
rounding (his beautiful sheet of water is quite fertile, and 
on the east and west sides high and rolling, while on the* 
north and south the land is low and flat and bordered 
with a wealth of luxurious foliage. Drayton Island is 
just inside the entrance at +he north. It stands like a 
bold sentinel guarding the pure watei's beyond. It is an 
attractive spot and quite romantic. Crescent Lake, in the 
southeast corner of the county, presents a rich and varied 
scenery. On the west shore is the charming town, Cres- 
cent City. Lake Como is another beautiful lake, one by 
three miles, and also in the same vicinity are Lakes Brow- 
ard, Crystal and Margarette. In driving overland or rid- 
ing in the cars through the western part of the county, 
one is seldom out of sight of lakes. On the Atlantic 
Coast Line Railway are— at Mannville, Lakes Ida and 



548 

Twins; at Interlachen, Lakes Chipco and Lagonda; at 
Keuka, Lakes Keuka, Cambo and Putnam ; at McMeekin, 
Lakes Claudia and Lu-Lu ; and to the north and south of 
the road are hundreds of pure, clear water lakes. In the 
southern portion of the county Lake Kerr is the most at- 
tractive. The scenery about these lakes has a wild and 
picturesque appearance. There is no other country in the 
world that presents such rapid change of scene. Often in 
the vicinity of these lakes there will be a park timbc>reJ 
with lofty pine trees free from underbrush. One carf 
tread on grassy lawns, frequently covered with delicately 
formed and brilliantly colored flowers. The next moment 
you are plunged into a dense hammock, which vine and 
tangled wild woods make impenetrable without an axe. 
Most of the trees of the forest are evergreens — some of 
them very large and very beautiful — among them the 
cabbage palmetto. In looking across the lake or a stretch 
of prairie, one frequently sees a cabbage palm stretching 
away above the surrounding trees as though he disdained 
to associate with his neighbors. He is the pride if not 
the king of the forest. 

Putnam County has many superior qualities for im* 
proving every portion of its land. The numerous rail- 
way's that now lace and interlace the county are sec- 
onded by the numerous streams that meander through 
the land. The principal ones are the St. Johns, which 
runs from south to north, and empties into the Atlantic 
Ocean; the Ocklawaha, which runs from west to east; 
tJie Deep river, which rjins from southeast, empty- 
ing into the St. Johns. There are also a number of large 
creeks that are navigable for small craft; among them 
are Little Orange, a tributary of the Ocklawaha; Doed 
creek, near Federal Point; Rice and Etoniah creeks, north 
of Palatka; Sulphur creek, at Mt. Rojal; Big Muddy, at 
Ft. Gates, and many others smaller. 

Transportation is had by rail across the county en^t 
and west, north and south, the entire length and breadth 
both ways by the Atlantic Coast Line; the eastern en3 uf 
the county is traversed by the East Coast Railway from 
Ja<ksonville via East Palatka to Miami, ft is thus seen 
thnt no county in the State has better transportation 
facilities than Putnam. 



549 

PALATKA, 

Is the county seat and has a population of 3,655, includ- 
ing Palatka Heights, which is in reality a part of Palatka 
proper. It is a thriving, prosgressive, anvl attractive lit- 
tle city, and is one of the most important points in this 
section of the State. 

HISTORICAL. 

In the days when the Red man held supremacy in Ihis 
beautiful, but then unexplored section of thf? Land of 
Flowers, he was accustomed, in supplying the Spanish 
garrison at St. Augustine with beef, to swim the cattle 
across the St. Johns river at the point where t'lis charm- 
ing city is now situated; so that it was called, in rxpi-es- 
eive aboriginal lingo, ''Palatka," which menus "the rross- 
ing." When the white* man obtained the mastery, and 
the Indians were driven further southward, th(» a])pro- 
priateness of the name, both on account of its expressive- 
ness and its euphony, was recognized, and the name per- 
petuated. 

During the war with the Seminoles Palatka was se- 
lected as headquarters for the United States Army, as 
well on account of its accessibility to the interior, as its 
facilitits for communication with the government. Dur- 
ing the war Generals Scott, Taylor, Gaines. Wo?th and 
Shernmn (then a lieutenant), were successively located 
at Palatka. 

In 1853 Judge Bronson of the United States Court, 
then a resident of I'alatka, obtained a special charter 
from the Legislature creating Palatka an incorporated 
town. At tbis time the greater part of tlie products of 
the inter-.or, especially of the rich cotton and cane liclds 
of Marion and Alachua counties, were bron.^bt to Pa- 
latka for shipment by steamers to Savannah and Ciiarles- 
ton, and it was T'ot until the construction of the Florida 
Railroad through the center of the State, which diverted 
the sl)iT)nioTii« of the inter'or over nnothfM* rontf. tV.Mt her 
commercial prosperity and growth were interrupted. 
During tlie jun-iod of her unprccedcMited prosperity, dwell- 
ings, stores, a court house and churches v/ore built. A 
large saw mill costing .f20,000 was erected, and vast ([uan- 



550 

titles of lumber were shipped by sail ships to New York 
and Boston. 

' But, what with the depressing effect (^f the financial 
crash of 1857 and of the civil war, which began Irlnre the 
country had recovered from the crash, Palatka languished 
until 1876, when the orange industry of Florida l.egan to 
attract attention and to draw settlers from the other 
states, of whom Palatka and vicinity received a large pi*o- 
portion, this being considered the best location for ihat 
business. 

Palatka, so picturesquely situated upon the banks of 
the St. Johns river, in the rich and populous county of 
Putnam, is surrounded with all the favoring conditions 
that afford a prosperous future. Like all cities, she has 
had her trials and troubles, her periods of stagnation — 
even of retrograde — and growth. But she has passed 
through all the vicissitudes of war, conflagration, Snan- 
cial convulsion, and pestilential alarm; but today she 
wears, with beauteous complacency and undisputed claim, 
the proud title of the Gem City of Florida. 

Palatka is situated upon the west bank of the river, 
with a deep channel running to the shore, affording the 
best wharfaige on the St. Johns. Steamers and vessels 
from every clime can unload at the very doors of the rail- 
road depots, warehouses and stores. 

COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE AND DISTRIBUTING 
FACILITIES. 

Palatka's future as a large and prosperous city is as- 
sured. Not only is it at the head of deep water navigation 
on the St. Johns, the extreme point southward to which 
ocean steanishij)S and large sailing vess?ls can come, but 
she is the radiating center, already, of the four railroads 
mentioned. 

Palatka is the site of many industrial plants; it has 
its ice factory, gas works, waterworks, brick kilns, ma- 
chine shops, planing mills and saw mills, and numerous 
other industries, all of which are prospering. 

We have not the space to devote to a detailed descrip- 
tion of each of the .smaller towns and their neighbor- 
hoods ; but we have mentioned a number of them, and all 



651 

will, with their respective localities, be found pleasant^ 
attractive* and desirable places for the locating of homes. 
The principal agricultural and other products for 1902 
were as follows : 

Value. 

Sea Island cotton, bales, 155 $ 8,312 

Corn, bushels, 24,184 18,045 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 30,424 13,t)r.5 

Field peas, bushels, 2,809 4,095 

Hay, tons, 365 4,016 

Velvet beans, bushels, 4,182 5.034 

Syrup, barrels, 594 7.421 

Oranges, boxes, 7,542 ir.,ll9 

Peaches, bushels, 3,472 ' 3,366 

Live stock on hand in 1902 : 

Horses, number, 595 31 ,r<20 

Mules, number, 26 3.!»30 

Stock cattle, number, 4,880 32.218 

Hogs, number, 2,683 5.445 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 14,307 3,048 



ST. JOHNS COUNTY. 



St. Johns is bounded on the north by Duval County 
and the Atlantic Ocean, on the east by the Atlantic O-enn, 
on th? ?outh by Volusia County, and on the west by Du- 
val, Clay and Putnam counties. 

It has an area of 960 square miles of land surface, or 
614,400 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 8,712, and in 1900 it was 
9,165, of which numlber 5,540 were whites and 3,625 were 
negroes. 

At the, close of the school year in 1901 there were in the 
county 3^ schools, of which 29 were for whites and 7 were 
for negroes. 



552 

ITS OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOMESEEKERS AND 
HEALTHSEEKERS. 

Five years ago St. Johns County was only known to lU© 
outside world from the fact that it contained the oldest 
city in the United States, and that city, St Augustine, 
was the leading winter resort of America, noted for its 
healhfulness and a delightful winter and summer home. 
Its hotels, exceeding in beauty and magnificence the royal 
palaces of the old world, were, as they are now, world fa- 
mous. As to its agricultural resources, aside its being a 
thinly settled agricultural region, devoted to cultivating 
a limited amount of field crops and being an excellent 
range for cattle and hogs, but little more could be said. 

Today it ranks as one of the important vegetable grow- 
ing counties in the State. Lands that were considered 
worthless, except for timber and grazing, are now 
acknowledged to be among the most productive in Florida, 
and while the development of the county is still in its in- 
fancy, it offers to the homeseeker advantages that are un- 
excelled in any farming country in the entire South. 

St. Johns County is situated on the east coast, with 
the Atlantic Ocean bounding it on the east and the St. 
Johns River on the west. It is nearly sixty miles long 
from north to south and an average of eighteen miles wide 
from east to west. The climate both in summer and win- 
ter is delightful, and owing to its proximity to the coast 
it is comparatively free from malaria and the health con- 
ditions are excellent. Artesian water, which has been 
pronounced by the best authorities as pure and healthful, 
can be easily obtained in any portion of the county, and 
there are at this time more artesian wells than in any 
county in the State. The Florida East Coast Railway^ 
conceded to be the best built railroad in the South, tra- 
verses the entire len^!?(h of the county. The St. Johns 
river and several navigable tributaries furnishes water 
communication on the west. The North river, v/hich 
reaches the sea by way of St. Augustine bar, 4s naviga- 
ble for nearly twenty miles for small boats and f ftps a 
section abounding in rich hammocks and fertile pine 
lands. To the south the Matanzas bay connects the in- 
lets of St. Augustine and Matanzas. South of Matanzaa 



•"'I^ ^&.jf*f^j, 





Digging Irish Potato. 'S, St. Johns Co. 




Irish Potato Pariu. -St. .John.s Co. 



553 

Inlet the South Matan/nH is now navigable for several 
miles ami wkirtH the old Hi. .loHeph and Ilernande/, planta* 
tionn which a ((Mihiry ajj;o werr renowned for (heir pro- 
ductiveneHH. Anide from (liiH the work of completing 
the lOuHt Coast Canal (o connec ( llie waleiH of (lie Ma(an- 
zas with (he Halifax river, (Imih fnrnishinf; inland water 
connnnnication from St. Angnntine to Miami, in being 
now i)nslied rapidly and two large dredgcH are now at 
work under con(i;ic( (o (ini^Ii (he canal widiin two yeai"*!. 
The <ligging of (he canal will also drain a vaHt area of 
wonderfully fei;tilc lauds. 

TDE STORY OF 11 A STINGS. 

When (li(> freex.e of 1805 destroyed the orange trees, 
S(. .loliiiH w!is pr.icdcally wip<'(l on( of (he lis( of coniiiiea 
which lia<l somcdiing (o sell. That was scvt'u years ag«». 
Today buyers from the principal markels of the I'nited 
Slates (Io< k here to bjd against e.uh other to purchase at 
remunerative pri<es (he prcduds of her frui(f\il s(»il. In 
the li((le Ke((lemeti( of Masdngs. in (his <'oun(y, (here were 
in (lu'<H' w<>eks time last siti-ii\ij more li-ivh potaloes ship- 
pe<l (o nmrkc( (han all (lie Irish po(a(o<'s grown in all 
the counlies of (he State of Florida. Not only that but 
the protU to the grower ^'as greiUer ami (he relunm 
purer (han in any sectioti of (he S(a(e. 

The development of Ilaslings was no( due to (he dis- 
covery of (lie value of i(s soil liy a farmer, 1mi( (o (he en- 
terprit^e of a lumberman and railroad builder. As a do- 
nation from (he Stale in the form of a grant of lan<l 
undei' (he iailroa<l ac(, several (liousands acres of lands 
in and around Deep creek in (his coun(y came into hi.n 
possessi<ui. Mr, U. .1. >\'liile, to whom (he ci'edit of (he 
jMoneer develojimenl of Ilaslings is due, having cut (he 
timber fr«)m (lie land was thought U) have an elephant 
on his hands, and it was ]»resumed (hal the uUimate i-e- 
BuK w(nild be (hat (he lands would rever( (o (lie S(a((» for 
non paynien( of axes, n fjniiiliar foi-in <>f proceeduiv wi(h 
the lumhermen <|f. ll^^vSowdi aftei* (hev have s(i-ipned i( of 
timber, 1( was low land, knowji generally as "crayfish 
land," and herelofoi-e was c<msidered valueless for pur- 
pose of cuKivadon. Mr. Whi(e, however. foun«l that it 
had a surface of rich black soil from eiithleen inclips to 



554 

two feet deep, below which was a subsoil of clay. Deep 
creek, a considerable stream that empties into the St. 
Johns river, skirts the tract and there is quite a fall td 
the creek. He took his crowd of laboroi*s who had just 
finished grading what was then known as White road, 
but is now a part of the Bast Coast Sytem, and set them 
at work digging a canal through the tract. Ife also sunk 
an artesian well and with an ox team broke up forty 
acres of the land. His experiment was the source of a 
great deal of good natured ridicule on the part of the na- 
tive farmers in the neighborhood. Mr. White dug several 
lateral ditches not connected with each other, but leading 
to the canal. One niight after a severe drought he opened 
the stop cock of his well and let it flow all night. Next 
morning he found all his «it:-hes full of water which had 
seeped through along the clay and perfonued the duty of 
sub-irrigation. He was satisfied with the experiment and 
began planting his seed. Within three months he began 
phipping the largest crop of cabbage^ever grown in St. 
Johns County. He had solved the problem of both drain- 
age and irrigation. 

NEW METHODS AND NEW CROPS. 

From that time on the growth of the settlement has 
been uninterrupted and crop failures have been practi- 
cally unknown. However the growing of cabbage and 
some other crops while yielding a profit have been largely 
abandoned, as other and more profitable crops have taken 
their places. The result of the successes at Hastings 
brought it to the attention of a number of intelligent gen- 
tlemen who applied scientific methods in cultivating the 
soil and today a hoe is almost a superfluous implement in 
the settlement. The cultivation of Irish pptatoes, for 
which the soil seems peculiarly adapted, is now the main 
feature of the settlement, although many other side crops 
are raised. 

Last spring in an acreage of less than 000 acres there 
was shipped from Hastings 32,000 barrels of Irish pota- 
toes, of a uniform size, which r?adily brought from |3.50 
to $3.80 per barrel, delivered at the depot at Hastings. 
The potatoes are first in market and are remarkable for 
their uniform size. They command the highest price 



555 

and the demand is still largely in excess of the supply, 
in fact but a few of the markets of the North have a« yef 
been covered. Next ijeason the acreage will be doubled. 

OTIIEK CROPS. 

Hastings is also becoming celebrated for the produc- 
tion of cane syrup. Hundreds of acres are devoted to the 
raising of sugar cane, most of which is converted into 
syrup and put up in hermetically sealed cans which sells 
readily at an advance of from fifteen to twenty cents over 
ordinary barrelled syrup. This trade is rapidly increas- 
ing. During the summer months large crops of sweet i>o- 
tatoes are raised and cow peas and velvet beans are sown 
both for forage and for rejuvenating the soil. In the fall 
a smaller area of Irish potatoes are planted and they are 
usually planted on new ground. When they are har- 
vested the ground is then prepared for the spring crop. 
Celery dees well here and lettuce is a profitabb- crop. 

One field of oats planted at White Towers, a tract of 
1,700 acres, which has recently been sold to Messrs. J. VV. 
Estes and W. II. Erwin for the purpose of cutting it up 
into small tracts for settlers, which compared favorably 
with the best oats grown in any Northern or Western 
state. The oats were heavy, full fleshed and full v/eight 
and yielded the remarkable average of forty bushels to 
the acre. They were planted on shares by a colored man 
who has already threshed out a thousand bushels. Mr. 
Clarence G. White, one of the most successful potato 
growers in Hastings, will feed his stock this year from the 
oats grown on his place. 

Mr. C. A. Dupont with two men and a team, aided in 
planting and harvesting time by extra help, successfully 
cultivated a spring crop of Irish potatoes from which he 
realized, after figuring in all his expenses, in the neigh- 
borhood of $8,000. 

Mr. Warren Erwin and his father, Mr. W. H. Erwin, 
who went to Hastings a few years since with no capital 
to speak of, are now comfortably well off. The same can 
be said of Mr. F. E. IJugbee. who with his brother, H. E. 
Bugbee, made $7,000 from forty acres of potatoes last 
spring. There are dozens of other instances which can be 
named of persons who without more than enough to buy 



6S6 

fhe wild l^nd have made themselves a comfortable compo- 
^Dce. 

FRUIT PROSPECTS. 

The cultivation of fruits at Hastings has by no meana 
been neglected. On the Wetumpka farms is a citrus 
grove of forty-five acres loaded with oranges and grape 
fruit. Pears, plums and persimmons grow well and the 
cultivation of the pecan is a success. 

The following extract from a recent publication gives 
an accurate idea of life at Hastings: 

RESULTS OF A YEAR'S WORK. 

Next morning as we arose we could see on all sides vnst 
fields of sugar cane, luxuriant sweet potatoes and whole 
fieltis of velvet beans and other crops. Besides, the farm- 
ers have just finished planting their fall crop of Irish po- 
tatoes. The fall planting is but a Fmall portion of the 
acreage put out for the spring crop, which is the main 
crop of the season, although acres of vegetables are raised 
durinsr the winter. Although Mr. Bugfcee has a barn full 
of sweet anrl nutritious hay. in which beggar weed and 
cow pea vines are niinirled wilh the crabgrass, he has just 
cut several ad^^it'onal tons which were cocked up for 
curing. Around his home were several pear, peach and 
plum trees, all of which bore heavy crops this season. 
Mrs. Bugbee, who shares Mr. Buigbee's enthusiasm for the 
country, had a pantry whose shelves groaned with their 
weight of canned fruits, tomatoes and other delicacies 
raised on the home place. A fine Jersey cow furnisVes 
an abundance of milk and butter for the family. Last 
season Mr. Bugbee purchased a forty acre tract and 
plan+'^d seven acres in Irish potatoes. With the help of 
one liired man and extra help during the digging and 
marVeting season, he harvested a fine crop and received 
f^^ -his spring crop of potatoes, alone, about |1,200. Hia 
entire income from the products of his farm for the year 
brought him the handsome sum of ?2.250. Next .year be 
will double his acreage of Iri^sh potatoes, havinff cleared 
t;hirteen acres of land additional this season. One of his 
neighbors, Warren Irwin, a 3'oung man, purchased twenty 



557 

acres of land and cleared seven of them for his spring; 
crop of potatoes. He had a fine yield and was able td 
get them to market early. His potatoes netted him $4.27 
per barrel, the best price obtained in the settlement f«>r an 
ciitire crop. Mr. Irwin was obliged to go in debt in or- 
der to cultivate his crop. J^e cleared enough in one year 
to pay his indebtedness, and spend |1,700 in building 
and clearing additional land, and had money enough Uft 
to make the first payment on an additional twenty acres" 
of land. Mr. Clarence White, who has a large farm iri 
the settlement, is probably the most scientific farmer in 
the neighborhood. He takes great care of his property 
and plants extensively in velvet beans, beggar weed and 
other leguminous crops. After securing suilicient hay 
for the needs of his stock, he turns the balance in to build 
up his soil. Mr. White last spring had twenty acres in 
potatoes, twenty-fiye acres in oats and many acres 13 
vegetables, corn, etc. He kept an accurate account of his 
returns from his potato crop. He considered his own 
time at |2.00 per day, his mules at fl.OO per day, and 
these, with the other expenses of wages, seed, etc., Avere 
all charged up against his potato crop. After all this he 
still had a balance in cash in favor of the twenty acrea 
amounting to nearly |3,000. 

ITS WONDEKFUL PRODUCTIVENESS! * 

The productiveness of the land is marvelous. It will 
average from forty to a hundred barrels of Irish potatoes 
to the acre, and in a number of instances has exceeded! 
this, and this same land has been planted with sweet pota- 
toes the same year after the Irish potatoes were out of 
the ground, which ha^j* yielded from 100 to 200 bushrlii 
per acre. Mr. E. L. Howard has a fine patch of cane on a 
piece of ground of about one-third of an acre, which last 
spring yielded the enormous amount of forty-three bar- 
rels of potatoes, or an average of 129 barrels to the acre. 

A GOOD FRUIT COUNTRY. 

Nearly every farmer has preserved a portion of the 
premises nearest the house for the cultivation of fruits, 
mostly for home ase. Peaches and pears of the finest 



558 

quality are raised without effort and plums and Japan 
persimmons find a natural home here. Pecans also do 
well, while the most thrifty orange trees in the country 
can be seen here, although they are frequently frozen 
down when not protected. The question of protection is 
interesting the people here and many trees will be pro- 
tected duriiiig the coming season. On the Wetumpka 
farms is a grove of fifty -five acres of beautiful young trees 
in as thrifty condition as could be wished for. Two of 
the fifty-five acres will be protected this season by a shed 
and the lumber for the purpose is already on the ground. 
The top wiil be covered with canvas. Mr. F. L. Brown 
will experiment with veneer protection for his grove, 
while Clarence White, P. E, Bugbee, E. L. Howard, -tames 
Kettle and O. S. Payne have ordered the McFarland tent. 
Mr. Bugbee has in his order included thirteen tents for 
his small trees, in which the diameter greatly exceeds the 
present need of his trees. He will utilize the remainder 
of the tents in planting lettuce for the winter market, 
calculating that it will be ready for shipment at a time 
when the market is bare of lettuce. He believes, from his 
knowledge of tJie prices obtained last year for lettuce at 
that season, that he can raise enough to pay for his tentg 
the first year, 

SUGAR CANE! 

That the country is well adapted for raising sugar cane 
has already been demonstrated. Probably the largest 
grower is U. J. White, whose cane is in fine condition 
this season. Great quantities of cane syrup are shipped 
annually,and considerable of it is put up in gallon cans, 
hermetically sealed, for which a good price is obta;ned. 
One day last season, a drummer for a certain variety of 
cans, siopp<Hl off at Hastings and took orders for $1,600 
worth of gallon cans alone. 

Hastings is eighteen miles southwest of St. Auigustino 
on the line of the Florida East Coast Railway; five miles 
from the St. Johns River and ten miles from Palatka. A 
superior class of settlers have located there and there is 
an excellent school. 



550 

, OTHER SECTIONS. - 

There are thousands of acres of undeveloped lands iu 
St. Johns County which are fully equal ai^d of a similar 
character to those of Hastings. During the past season 
, the attempt to raise Irish potatoes has been almost uni- 
formly successful and in the southern part of the countj 
several thousands of acres will soon be open to purchase. 

BERMUDA ONIONS. 

One crop which is now being successfully cultivdted in 
the neighborhood of St. Augustine is the Bermuda onicm. 
Hundreds of bushels have been raised with profit and a 
larger area will be put into cultivation within tho coming 
season. Cassava grows luxuriantly 'jn the lands along 
the coast and the fattening of cattle and hogs on oassava, 
velvet beans, manj^el wurzel beets and similar foods, in- 
cluding also alfalfa, which grows luxuriantly, is begin- 
ning to be a profitable business. Grape culture is receiv- 
ing much attention and the manufacture of native wine 
is already becoming an important industry. 

There are several flourishing vineyards, mostly of the 
Bcuppernonig and muscadine varieties, although other 
kinds do well here. 

St. Johns County is rich in fibre producing luaterial and 
offers inducements for paper manufacturing which will 
doubtless be taken advantage of in the near future. In 
the State Fair held last year in Jacksonville it should 
be noted that Mr. Eugene Masters, a truck farmer whose 
place is located within two miles of St. Augustine, re- 
ceived the first prize for the best individual vegetable 
exhibit. Mr. Masters is also a successful hog raiser and 
by crossing the native hog with other stock lias raised a 
superior breed which he sells at a profit. 

FISHING INDUSTRY. 

Fishing was once the principal occupation of a large 
number of the citi^^ens of St. Augustine and still atfoi-ds a 
means of livelihood to many. Owing to the great influx 
of winter visitors there is an excellent market for fish 
at home. The bays and inlets teem with oysters, and of 



560 

late efforts are also being made to cultivate thera. Claras, 
shrimp and the famous stone crab abound here and find 
li- ready market. 

ST. AUGUSTINE. 

As an ideal summer and winter home St. Augustine of- 
fers advantages that are unequalled. The heat in sum- 
mer is tempered with the southeast winds, which blow 
steadily here; the nights are invariably cool and annoying 
insects are scarce. The city has a normal summer popu 
lation of 5,000, which is quadrupled in the wint3r. The 
school facilities are excellent and there are many advan- 
tages which appeal to those who wish a X)leasant home. 
Opportunities for employment are increasing. This city 
has one of the largest printing establishments, and the 
only engraving plant in the State. The shopg and gen- 
eral offices of the Florida EastCoast Railway are •H'ated 
here. There are several cigar factories here, the largest 
of which, that of Garcia, Vega and Carcaba, employs 
nearly a hundred hands and sends its product to ?Al parts 
of the United States. The State Institute for the Deaf, 
and Blind is located here. Also the railroad hospital. It 
has a steady growth and is constantly improving ih'i rhar- 
acter of its public and private buildings. It has more 
asphalt pavement than any city in the State and is con- 
stantly increasing its area of vitrified pavement. Excel- 
lent shell roads furnish opportunity for driving and wheel- 
ing and the County Side Path Commission, recently or- 
ganized, is now beginning the construction of blcvcle 
paths all over the county. A new court house will be 
built within the coming year. It- lias a splendid system 
of waterworks, gas and one of the largest individual v'^lec- 
tric light plants in the country, which is used for lighting 
the Flagler hotels and casino. The casino and batbs are 
the finest in America. The sea beach is easily reached 
and furnishes excellent bathing. A Board of Trade lias 
recently been organized with a view of aiding in the de- 
velopment of both town and county. 

The principal agricultural and other products for 3902 
were as follows: 



5151 

Value. 

Gorii, bushels, 18,479 f 18,479 

Oats, bushels, l.*,;i8r 1,199 

hwtet iA»t;iu>i=s, bushals, Gi,G25 o(),ii>.;{ 

Field peas, basheis, 7,(>4o 8,202 

Hay, lens, 515 7,7:33 

Syi up, barrels, 1,013 lli,l(Jl 

Sujjjar, pounds, 31.o50 l.oGS 

Irisli potatoes, bushels, 177,390 214,074 

Cabbage, crates, 1,3<I0 1.740 

Tonuitoes, crates. 1,005 1,230 

Oranges, boxes, 1,070 7,135 

Pecans, bu^liel«. 202 1,083 

Peadies, busl-els, 2.(518 3,587 

Grapes, pounds. 250.700 5,134 

Wine, gallons, 21,940 21,940 

Figs, bushels, 224 429 

Live sto< k on hand in 1902: 

Horses, nunber. 990 72,900 

Mules, number, 137 15,525 

Fto ^- rnt^^ -'Vril'cr, 16,304 152.479 

Hogs, numbpr, 6,662 ; 13,28.> 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 31,085 12,<54l 



SANTA ROSA COUNTTf. 

Ranta Ro^a is bounded on the north bv the State ot 
Alabama, east by Walton county, south by the Gulf of 
Mexico, and west by Escambia county. 

It has an area of 1,528 square miles of land Burface, or 
977,920 acres. 

Its population in 1890, was 7,961. and in 1900 it wa« 
20.293. of which number 7,827 were whites and 2,466 were 
negroes. 

At the close of the school term in 1901. there were in 
the county 73 schools, of which 64 were for whites and 
9 were for negroes. 

Santa Rosa County, Florida, li^s between the Alabama 
line and the Gnlf of Mexico, and is the second count/ 
ftrom the Western border of the State. 

36 H. F. 



502 

It has within its borders St. Mary de Galvez, Eist and 
Blackwater bays and large portions of Ksiambia and 
Tensacola bays with a salt watar coast line of over 2l)0 
miles. Creeks and rivers, used principally for rafting 

purposes, are numerous. 

The county is at its greatest length, north and south, 
4G miles, with a greatest breadth of 43 miles. 

Santa Rosa County is one and ona-half times as large 
as Rhode Island and nearly as large as Delaware. 
'■ It has within its borders over 1,01)0.(100 acres of land, 
less than 5,000 of which is under cultivation. Of this 
vast extent of territory over 200,000 acres belong to the 
"United States and are subject to homestead entry. 

Large tracts of land are owned by the mill and turpen- 
tine companies, much of which is for fsale on very reason- 
able terms, subject to the company removing the mer- 
chantable timber. 

The land is timbered — principally pine. Cypress, oak, 
juniper, sweet gum and a host of other varieties of tim- 
ber are found in abundance within the borders of Santu 
Kosa county. 

The soil in the greater portion of the county is very 
fertile, only waiting the sturdy arm of the earnest, perpe- 
vering laborer to make it teem with the products of nearly 
every known clime. 

On trial, the land will be found the home of the grape, 
peach and peer, and will become the most valuable in this 
eectinn of the State. 

There are between the Rlarkwater and Escambia rivers 
over 300,000 acree of as fine land as lies out of doors iu 
this beautiful southland. It is ready and waiting the 
hand of the farmer and fruit grower. 

This land produces without fertilizers from 20 to 40 
bushels of cam per acre, and. 100 bushels of 8we?t pota- 
toes; 40 bushels of rice nnd 500 to j.,000 gallons of cane 
BTrup is no uncommon vieM. , . •. 

As for fruit, the fig. p?aoh, pear and granp are n't horije. 
T?»e Kelspy plum, the Japan persimmon, the Satsuma or- 
nnge and a score of other fruits will thrive here. The fl;^ 
Id this section knows no RU«h word a» fail. Tt grow* 
readily nnd rapidly from cuttings which, with prober at- 
tention, will begin bearing the second year. Within ei^ 



C63 

teen months after plajiting jou can eat, in this section, 
the fruit of your own vine (grape vine) and fig tree. Figs 
dried, evaporated or preserved ara a delicacy and sell 
well in any market. Grapes and peaches begin yieldinj* 
paying crops within two years after setting out. AH the 
grapes raised in this saction are generally sold at lOc to 
15c per pound, and peaches bring as high as four dollars 
per bushel, in the market. Santa Rosa County is the 
home of the pecan, and a number of the orchards have a 
world wide reputation. Pecans from this county have 
taken medals and prizes at expositions. Pecan trees are 
not of rapid growth, but they will pay handsome returns 
in fifleen \ears, and from that time on tlse vaiup of the 
grove is constantly increasing. Trees fifty years old shovr 
no signs of succumbrng to old age. \Vith the same care 
it will come into profitable bearing as soon as the orange. 
A pecan grove is more valuable than au orange grove. It 
requires no fertilizer, although a little judiciously ap- 
I>lied increases the growth and shortens the time the 
])lanter has to waist for paying crops, and but little care 
is required. It is a hardy tree and the wood is very val- 
uable. 

The soil in this county is the ideal of the market gar- 
dener. Cabbage, beans, peas, lettuce, onions, radashes, 
ckra, egg plant, beets, tomatoes, corn, turnips, rutabagas, 
Irish potatoes, etc.. make glad the heart of him who 
plants either for home' use or the rnarlcet. Melons, can- 
taloupes, cucumbers, squashes yield abundant crops. 

Thi"^ soil, is the home of tho sweet pohit'^ a^^'' mwhere 
el^e does it grow to such perfection as in this region. 

The time the r^rop of tlfe' market gardener is ready foP 
iT;arket insures him good prices. It comes just at that 
Feison when there is an inierim between the old and new 
€ron in the places, north of us. 

The early crop is ready to catch not ority ■Northern 
cities but also. Montgomery^ Atlanta, Birmingham ajd 
other Routiiern cities.. 

In the years pa,st the people 1nvebe<»n swinging to the 
end of a pine log and necessity. Fin^ crops have 
nnd are being raised in this v^ection without a pound of 
fertilize^;'" 

But admitting for the sftkeof argument that it is nee* 
c«sary to use fertilizer, it is better than the north 



The crops produced being wovlb fi-oin four to ten tmies 
tlie price obtained in tlie iVortli. There you are laid up by 
the cold at least six months in the vear, consuming what is. 
made in the otaer six months, but here >ou ha\e a crop 
growing m the held the ^ear around. In the i\orth vou 
s^end aiuie m one ,>ear lor winter fuel and clothing, 
which yoa do not need in the South, than you would 
sptud lU two for fertilizers in the South. Use common 
sense and come South. 

This is one of the greatest sheep growing sections of 
the State; here the sheep raise themselves. This is the 
only country in the world where a sheep can out-run a 
horse, take care of itself and its owner besides, and still 
increase in number and prove a profitable investment. 

Men here own thousands of sheep, but never see them 
except in the "round up" and sheep shearing season. In 
this county there are over 40,000 head of sheep and yet 
there are none for sale, and it is almost impossible to get 
any mutton to eat. These facts are evidence sufficient to 
prove that it is a profitable business. 

As for cattle and hogs they, too, are children of the 
forest and are usually let run until wanted for the beef 
pen or pork barrel. 

The stock here is mostly of the native sorts. ConHitler- 
able etTort is being made at present to improve the s-toek, 
and a good many imported thorough bred animals are 
now in the county. 

Poultry needs careful attention but the profits are- 
enormous. Eggs range from 15 to 40 cents per dozen, and 
it does not take much of a broiler to bring 25 to 40 cents^ 

Milk and butter bring good prices. Skimmed milk 
with plenty of water has been sold at 10 cents per quart. 
Buttermilk brings 5 cents per quart, while good butter 
seldom sells for less than 30 cents per pound. 

The native grasses are very nutritive, and experiment* 
with a number of clovers are proving satisfactory, while 
millet, upland rice and oats yield an abundance of nutri- 
tive feed stuffs; native grown hay brings from |12.00 to 
flO.OO per ton, and there is fine profit in it at sucli 
figures. 

As to health, there is certainly as little sickness amon^;^ 
the people of this county as anywhere oo the globe. Na 
,dangerous diseases are known. 



n()5 

As to hent, it never grows exceedingly hot. Sometime« 
the thermometer crawls up into the nineties, but always 
retires before evening, giving us comfortable nights for 
resting. Such a thing as a sunstroke has never beea 
known in this county. 

The winter climate is delightful and no great degree 
of cold is experienced. The Satsuma orange withstands 
a temperature of fifteen degrees, so that it is perfectly 
hardy in this section. 

Wood can be had in abundance at nominal prices evan 
by the residents of the towns, while every one who has a 
tenm can procuie all he needs by sparing a few days for 
the J urpos3 of "laying in firewood." One of the grandest 
oppnings in this county is that of the propagation of oys- 
ter*. The bays and bayous form an extensive area for the 
planting and cultivation of this bivalve. 

Fishing, hunting and sailing can be enjoyed by all. 
Plenty of sport for those who ar-e inclined to spend their 
time in the enjoynienis in the field and on water. 

Santa Ro«!a has several towns. Milton is the county 
seat with 1,204 inhabitants. Bagdad is an adjoining vll- 
l,'t"o cf .-(♦' 'on^f'. I\ii"i';;'n clriiirs '^'bo";'! ('■']). Tiifn ^'-f* 
other stations alonjr the line of railway are Harp, Good 
Range and^Holt. There are postoffices among the settle- 
ments throughout the county. 

There are sawmills at Bagdad, Milton and Milligan, 
and smaller mills at other places in the county. The«t5 
are shingle mills, and sash blind and door factories at 
Bagdad, also brick kilns, etc. 

Tliere is plenty of room for other industries. 

Thpre is ample room and the greatest attractions in the 
South for winter resort hotels right here in Milton. 

Church facilities are fair even in the country. Nearly 
every settlement has a church building. 

Wages for laboring men range from 7.5 cents with 
meals to $1.25; mechanics $2 and upward. Good farm 
labor is hard to get, although inferior help can be had 
in abundance at almost your own price. White farm 
labor is the great need of this section. 

Poisonous reptiles are scarce. Now and then a rattle- 
Enake, and around the water heads, the moccasin. 



500 

Insects are scarce. At certain seasons of the year wo 
liave the tlra whiih disapnears when the hojjs aiM jjoata 
are kept within bounds. Mosquitops are not nuniprous. 

Flies are not here in sufficient number to worry Ihe 
housewife to any extent. No screens for doors or wia- 
dov'i are u^e.]. Ihcic are nu t'rantui.'s or centipciies 

The poor man. who is a farmer, can readily find a home 
here, but he should have enough money to tide hiiu 
through until lie can get his land under cultivation. 

If you are satisfi?d with reasonable prosperity, and 
want to engage in fruit culture, market gardening or 
efock raising, and have the energy to <-arry out your 
plans, success is sure to crown your efforts. 

I'o^sibly the best time to come is in the fall monrlis — 
Sept?mber. October, November — but the winter months 
are also dcs'rable months to make the change. Y<»u can 
po to farming any time you arrive, from January 1st t<» 
De<*ember 31st. 

The princi] :al agricultural and other products for li)f)2 
were as follows: 

Val.ic 

Upland cotton, bales, 252 fin.lSG 

Corn, bushels, 27.731 21.855 

Sw?et potatoes, bushels, 43,17i 22 !ia 

Field pens, bushels, 1,()25 3.25<i 

Syrup, barrel?, 7G1 12.454 

Hay. tons, 82G «S.255 

Peaches, bushels, 5.857 5.iU-4 

Live stock on hand in 1902: 

Horses, number, 770 20.733 

Mules, number, 59 : - -305 

Stock cattle, nnmb"v. 0,578 37.792 

Sheep, number, 15,GG2 18,173 

Hogs, number, 1,359 6,079 



507 

SUMTER COUNTY. 

This county is bourded on the north by Marion, east 
by Lake, on tlie south by (Mtrus, Hernando and Polk, 
aud on the west by Herrando. Citrus and Pasco counlies. 

It has an area of 599 square miles of land surface, or 
S83.:](;() a< res. 

Its ijojiuhition in 1890 was 5,3G3, and in 1901) it was 
0,187. of which number 3,997 were whites and 2,281) were 
negrors. 

At the close cf the school term in 1901 there weP3 In 
the <ounty 42 schools, of which 31 were for whites aud 
11 were for negroes. 

TIiP to|;ovra]iliy of Sumter Tourty is to a considt^rabls 
extent gently undulating, while large portions of the 
county aie ent rely level. The timber growth is, like 
most of the smie section of country, mostly pine, with 
scattering hammoc ks of mixed growth of pine and variciuei 
hardwoods. A (Ocsi[Ierable portion of the county is 
taken up with lakes, po'ids. and small fresh waitT 
Btreams. around and alo^g whose shores strips of 'lam- 
mo k lands of great fertility are found. These hani]iio«k 
lands hnve enjoved in the past, and even y9i enjoy, a great 
reputation as fruit and vegt able producing lands, ind it 
is not to be dnubtej that they are pt lo^st among the 
most fertle and pro«1uctive of any in the Ptat°. The pine 
lands of the high and low jrrade. rr rathrr what is known 
as fii*ct nrd F.°cond class, form much the larger oart of the 
landed area of the courty: as elsowhere in the State, the 
first cla's form the irreat bulk of the gpneral farming 
lands; the second class and the flat lands, being princi- 
pally used as cattle ranges. 

No courty in the central part of E^st Florida is 1>et- 
ter adapted, in soil, climatp a^d location, to snccessful 
fruit, vegetable and general farminsr than Sumter County. 

Few counties enjoy the transportation facilit'es afford- 
ed hv fhia county: the Withla'^oochee form more than 
half of its we'-tern boundarv. au'^ i«s T^vifrable the 2r.^;i*er 
part of the distance to the Onlf of Mexico, then criviujj 
water transportation to the West Coast. The Seabonr'l 
Air Line and the Atlantic Coa^t Line, and their 
branches traverse the county in all directions, furnish- 



568 

ing dose connection with aU points, North, East, !?outIi 
and West. 

Vegetables are grown in great quantities for shipment 
1o Northern markets, and about all the senji-tn'pical 
fruits aie also successfully grown. 

.SUMTERVILLE, 

The county seat, is situated in the central portion of rhe 
county, on the Seaboard 4^ir Line Railway, and Is sur- 
rounded by a fine farming and fruit growing section of 
the county. It has good schools and churches; mo«t of 
the religious denominations being well represeu^ej 
Throughout the county. 

The rripcipal agricultural and other products for 1903 
were as follows : 

Value. 

Sea Island cotton, bags, 81 1 7.1215 

Corn, bushels, 7(5.047 ';?JGO 

Oats, bushels, 31,3^3 IT.tOT 

Sweet potatoes, bu«liels, 58,217 2'>.20f) 

Syrup, barrels, 1,330 2i ..V).'? 

Field peas, bushels, ] 1,288 22 2r,2 

Peanuts, busheh, 0.013 10.r)2'> 

Velvet beans, bushels, 1 1,908 1 2.070 

Cabbage, crates, 38.408 27.837 

Tomatoes, crates, 80 308. 72,073 

Cucumbers, crates, 02.017 03.805 

Watermelons, cap I'^ads, 5G3 44.172 

Beans, crates. 25,400 27,747 

Oranges, boxes, 5,404 12,487 

Live stock on hand in 1902 : 

Horses, number, 1 ,495 88.005 

Mules, number, 2G1 30.075 

Stock cattle, number, 21,117 142.5<)0 

Hogs, number, 15,845 10,903 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 29,228 9,091) 



SI WANNEE COUNTY. 

This countv Is houudcd on the north by Hamilton, on 
the east by Hamilton and Columbia, on the south by 
Ala* hua ?'nd l.aFavett(\ and on the \vest by LaFayette, 
Wadif^on and Hamilton count ifs. 

It h-s an area of (589 square miles of land Kurfa(t% or 
44(M)(>{) acres. 

Its population in 18f:(» wrs 10,524, and lu 1001) it was 
14,554. of whiih ni:n;ber 7,077 were whit5S and t',o77 were 
iiegroets. 

At the close of the school term in ISO I vhera were in 
the (onnty 82 public schools, of which 57 vvorc fc<r whites 
and 25 were for nej^rocs. 

(leojrraphically, Suwarree County is situated in what 
is known locally as ^liddle Florida — a term which ramt* 
into common usage before tlie southern pan of the State 
became trn versed by ra Iroads. and thereby opened r«) sct- 
tlemert. The term still remains, though it is r.iislca "ing 
to one rot acqrainted with the facts, as it is in Aliddle 
Florica only as appl:e« to the east and west, and is in the 
north.ern tier of c ouiities of the State, being but a few 
miles from the Georir a line. However, her geoi;rai)hical 
position is not a detiimert, but is pos<:;bly one of the 
favors that Nature bestows so lavishly upon her, for it is 
traversed by two truck lines of railroads, tlie Seaboard 
Air Line and the Atlnntic Coast Line, whl h, crossing 
each other at Live Oak. the county seat, and near the cen- 
ter of the county, radiate in four direc t'ons, thus a!Vord- 
ing trfinsportation fncililies far abovj vhose enjoyed by 
most other counties of the State. The tirst c;f these runs 
from enst to west throuph the county, c-onnecting Jack- 
sonville and western part of the State, v/hile tlu^ latter, 
the Atlantic Coast Lire, traverses it from north 1o scmth, 
Tampa being its southern terminus. Besides these, the 
Suwannee and San Pedro Railroad Co., and ihe Live Oak 
and Gulf Railroad Co. have Live Oak for their . ithem 
terminus. The first named extends in a southwesterly 
direction through the counties of La Fayette and Taylor, 
and the latter to the head of navigation on the Suwannee 
River. This river forms the northern, wrsf'^rn "nd sonth- 
ern boundary of the county, and is navigable to Luraville, 



570 

a thriving town about sixteen miles from Live Oak and 
near which are valuable deposits of phosphate. 

The county embraces an area of about t-even humlred 
square miles, and by the census of 1900 was inluibitcd by 
15,572 peojile. whi h has since been augmented by i voii- 
Ktant influx of people who came to engage in the many in- 
dustries to be found in operation within the territory. 
Agriculture is the principal industry, and the farmers 
are of that class who make their farms, not only self-sup- 
porting but profitable. Many of them have handsoino 
bank accounts, and few of them, comparitively, are foried 
to seek the men hants' assistance in their operations. 

Sto< k raising is engaged in to a limited extent, but Mds 
fair to become one of the most important indust. i^s in 
this county, as it has been demonstrated that beef and pork 
can l^e rroduced here cheaper than anywhere else on the 
Ameriran contii'ent. Natural grasses are the mpin de- 
pen r'ence for pastura.ge, thouph Bermuda gra<='S Ihrives 
and is used to some extent. Experiments are being made 
with other rultivater? orassps. and whi' h will doubtless be 
Buccessful. Foir raisin jr will no doubt ere long become 
a lartre and nrofitable industry in this county, ns p'nr'ers, 
chiTf"s. sorghum. r)Pa«. cas«ava. etc.. produce abundantly, 
and by Ihe use of whidi pork ran be nrodured at an ex- 
pe'^^p not PXceerJug ore and one-half cents per iiourd 
Cattle requ'res feed and att'^ntion but three movrhs i-i 
■Ihp year, and cassava and vplvet beans furnish a splr^ndid 
rat'on for them at very little expense. 

Horticulture commands some attention, and only npo'^s 
an intellij'ent pursuit to yVd fabulous profits. There 
ar-* coypral npcnn "tovps of from 40 to fiO npre«. an-l the 
numbpr is beinp- nr?ded to vf^^rlv. Individual trees of this 
rut 20 ypars o^d have yielded ^^0 ppr annum here. .A-il 
kiu'^s of fru'ts do well. The following van'pties arp found 
in luxuriant growth t^rouffhout the county: Pea'he**, 
pears, plnms. graues. fio-s and nuinces. A small acreage 
is devo*^ed to ptra wherries and rasnborries, b"t thev pro- 
duce abun^'antly and of luscions onalitv, while bh)« kbep- 
ries p^row at large and are so plentiful as to be a nuisance 
to the farmer. 

All of the vegetables known to civili'/.ation are at homo 
in this favored section, and ffarf^en'r^? operations M''e car- 
ried on the year round. The following are principal vege- 



571 

tables grown: Beans, beets, peas, cabbage, cauJ'flDwer, 
corn, cucumbers, melons, turnips, lettuce, tomat.^rs, egg- 
plant, squasb, onions and jjotatoes. 

The principal crop raised for export is Sea Ishmd cot- 
ton, famous for its long, silky staple and used iu nianu- 
fa( ture of tine fabrics, of whi(h is produced frorii 1201) (o 
800 pounds per acre, worth from 10 to 40 dollars. 

Other crops raised for home consumption are: Swoct 
potatoes, yield from 100 to 200 bushels, worth froni .?HJ to 
$80 per acre; corn, from 8 to 30 bushels, worth here from 
50c to fl.OO per bushel; sugar cane, yield 300 to 400 gal- 
lons of syrup per acre, worth from $120 to $100; Irish po- 
tatoes. 200 to 250 bushels, worth $1 per bushel ; cassava 
f» to 12 tons, worth for stan h pur]!Oses -^30 t<» $72. and 
in production of pork, $75 to $150 per acr?. rM]>it}ilists 
nre considering the erection of a factory for the "on ver- 
sion of ca«*sava into star<h. in the near future. Rye an»l 
oats are staple crops, while whePt and barley have Ti^en 
tested and found to be a suc(ess under intclligen* culture. 

An abundance of pure water can be had anywhere in 
this county at a depth of from 60 to 125 feet, the total 
cost of procuring being 00 cents ])er foot. 

Very few po'sorors irserts or rPT»tiles ; re to be fo^ind 
fn the county, and the oldest inhabitant remembers but 
one Instance of serious results from such rause. 

This county has never b'^rn vi«'ted by any dlsia-'ter of 
flood, storm or drougth, and a failure of crops is unknovrn 
to its inhabitants. 

As a result of the condition of the fanning » lass every 
other industry in the county is thriving, the people are en- 
ergetic, enterprising and the evidences of prosperity may 
be seen on every hand. 

There are in sucressful operation in Hie lounty seven 
tnmber manufacturing plants, ore foundry and n\achine 
Bhop, one ice plant and cold storP,ge, one hardwood fac- 
tory, onp gin and vehicle factory, one bror.n factory, two 
rice mills, two barrel factories, fourteen cotton ginning 
•etablishments. besides other enterprises of a lc«3f»r na- 
ture, all of which give, employment to numbers of people 
an'1 assist in the lubrication of the wheels of commerce. 

There are 81 public »• hools in the county —52 of which 
are for the white children and 23 for the colored cliildrcn. 



TIloy give eiiiplovinciil to 70 lencluM-s. Tlu' •jvcr.ij'e leu<;lli 
of term in l!)()l was .SJ days, llie av(M-a;>e alti'iidarue 1h»- 
iug, for the whites, 1,4;>'), (oloied, 1'2V>. Pjial 1',1G5, lost- 
ing for the year |15,(>37.31. 

The touuly maintains one high S(hool f >•.• e;'( h race at 
the county scat, at which tiie carricuhim ctu'tiaios fnv«>ra- 
bly with that of any preparatory college in the land. 

The religious denominations represented in the < oiinty 
are Methodist, IJaptist, rro?l)yter'a-n, JOpisropaiian, 
Catholic and ^'econd Adveniivt. ;'.il of wIj < ii iiavc Inmi- 
some and commodious i)la( (s of woi'^hip. f>xcc];t the ratli- 
olics, who are few in number and have no rega'-'i pl.rce 
or time of meeting. 

The county is ])ossildy as well o!T'<ore' a*; any cmjiity 
in the State, a^d <'onse{]ueiitIy its Mnrncrs are in good 
shaT>''. several of tlie furl's l);>v'"«>- ''""-o i..i]..;>..o« •'-) ;])(. 
hands of the treasurer, none of wl'.ich are ev?r so over- 
drawn as to discredit warraiits tiiawn i hereon. 

The rate of taxt'on for'the T>ro«'e'^t ^ear s 11^ nii'ls. 
apro^tioned as follows: F< hrol. .5 mills; roar's, 4 mil's; 
building and pauper, 1-J mills; general revenue. I mill. 

The Board of Cou'^ty rommissioT^e's Iims latf^ly under- 
taken the construction of good roads thror^hout the 
county. Thfv now have constructed a"d \^ course of 
f onstruVtioTi e'ght miles of hard roads, and it is ])rof)Osel 
to raridly extend mileage o/ good roads to the farther- 
most limits of the county. 

Live Cak, the county site, is the principal toAvn ;:ud has 
a population of about 2,.500. It has two banks, five drug 
stores, two livery stables, two newsnaT)ers, water works^ 
ice plant, telei.'hone system, three timber mills, two gin- 
ning establishments, four railroads and forty or more 
mercantile establishments. It is regarded in the com- 
mercial world as one of the safest towns in the St-'.te, 
there never having been a failure of any conseque.ice 
among the merchants of the place during its history. The 
town, as is the entire county, is under the local option 
law (dry), and the moral and religious status of the peo- 
ple is fully poua^ to her standing in n biif^i-^rips wa^'. The 
people are hospitable, generous, enterprising, always 
ready to extend a helping hand to any worthy man or en- 
terprise that may see fit to locate among them. 



.)<• 



Thr [.ii"» ii>:>I iigri. iiltunil and otlior [inuliKts for .'1)02 
>v«Mv j«s lollows: 

Valnp. 

S(a isitiH) ( ottt»'>, bnffs, 5.721 $i52,510 

Corn, bnslHg. 344.010 SiV-iH) 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 233,110 128 6-r5 

Fvrnp. barrels. 11,111 in,r)S7 

reain:ts, buslels, 250 830 250,S30 

rea« hes, bushels, 51,083 51,08:J 

Live sto( k en baud in 11-02 : 

Horsts, number, 1,1)23 134,180 

Mules, number. 1.2;6 105.870 

F.to( k catde, number, 10,812 57.009 

Hogs, number, 26,0 i5 139,575 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 128,446 J8,20S 



TAYLOR COUNTY. 

This county is bounded on the north, by Jefferson and 
Madison, on the east by Madison and LaFayelte. on the 
south by the Gulf of Mexico, and on the west by Jefferson 
County and the Gulf cf Mexico. 

It has an area of 1,100 square miles of land surface, or 
704,000 acres. 

Its population in 1800 was 2,122, and in 1900 it was 
3,099, of which number 3,561 were whites and 438 weie 
negroes. 

At the close of the school term of 1901 there were in the 
county 35 public schools, of which 34 were for whites and 
one was for negroes. 

Taylor County is located in what might be termed Mid- 
dle West Florida, originally a part of Madison, being 
made a separate county by the Legislature of 1856-7. It 
extends from the Steinhatchee to the Aucilla rivers. 

The county seat is Perry, a village well laid off with 
streets, shaded with beautiful oaks, having the public 
jiquare as center. The town has a good school lasting 
eight months in the year, and two churches, Methodist 
'and Baptist. It has a population of about four hundred, 



574 

nnd is 35 miles soulh of Madison, the county sea*- of 
JIadiKon County. 

The po'l of the county is rather varied in some f5ec*- 
tiors, being of a pandy porous nature. Tn other section-*, 
it is of a more conipaci gray sub-soil. The soil with ^'av- 
orable pea^ons. produces well all the staple pro!lucri('n« 
frown in the Stale, especially a high grade of "Sea 
Island" cotton, which classes vrell and brings a fancy 
j)rice in the markets. The soil is well ar'aiited to the i»ro- 
duction of sugar cane, ri( e, cassava and all kinds of tnic k 
farming. The farmers, with a favorable season, may ex- 
pect a good yield, because they can raise nearly every- 
thing they want on their farms. 

Another important industry of the county is that of 
stock raising. In the county there are many thousnnti 
acres of low lands suited to grazirig. and with care that 
will be one of the great industries of the county. Quile a 
number of beef cattle are driven from the county each 
year, which gives a nice income to the cattle owners. 

The county is almost one great pine forest, inter- 
Bpersed here and there with bays and swamps filled with 
fypres"s and cednv of such a class as will find ready sale 
in the timber markets of the world. 

The naval stores operntions are just opening up in sec- 
tions where tran8r>ortation can be had. The outpnr of 
gum classes up well with that of a^iy section of the Sta'f». 

There are, in some sections of the county, indications 
of oil and raturnl ga*"; alFo nhosphnte deposits have '.>°en 
found along the Aucilla n^d the FinhoHoway rivers that 
class well; and only awaits the hand of labor and can'tal 
to remove from the bosom of mother earth thnt whicii 
will bring riches into our midst and peace and plenty into 
our homes. 

Taylor Cornty has fi long coast line and the fish'ng in- 
clustrv' affords employment to many during the season for 
taking salt fi«h. At Tedar Island, Knring Creek, Dolly's 
Creek mny be found iri abundance, the, finest variety 'frf 
oysters along the Onlf Coast of Florir'a. All kinds of 
fowls seen in Florida are found along the coast diurlng the 
winter months. Peside the salt fish, every neck anci 
river is teeming with all the fresh wpter fish known in this 
section of the country, and can be had only for the tak- 



575 

ing. The forest abounds in all kinds of game seen in 
Florida, and may be called the sportsman's paradise, 
business man's haven of rest, and a panacea for the ails 
and diseases of the sick. The long tresses of beautiful 
moss fanned by the tgentle breezes of the Gulf, ran out 
reFt the wearied brain, and sooth the aching limbs of him 
who suffers pain from any malady. 

Among the attractions of the county are Ecoufenee, 
Hampton and Emerson Springs, the Hampton being liic 
most noted. The sparkling waters of this spring briiii; 
forth from the great labratories of natur'^, lemedics for 
n'any diseases that cannot be reached by the Tieatm(nt i.f 
skillful physicians. After one has spent sometime .tt ono 
of these springs, he will feel like he has really visited the 
"Fountain of Youth" so eagerly sought by Ponce de 
Leon. 

There are now three railroads building into the rnuntr, 
the Suwannee and San Pedro Railroad, whi h will reach 
Perry in a few weeks, is now running passenger cars with- 
in six miles of Perry. The others are the Souih Georgia 
and West Coast Bailroad and the TallahaMsee Southeast- 
ern, both of whi(i promise to be completed at an early 
date. These roads w'ill furnish ample facilities for trans- 
portation, together with the trading ve"5S(ils along <he 
ooast, will open up the channels of tra<^e in such a way 
that wjll give employment to many who are Jseekins: a 
place for profitable investment, and soon Iho popul;iti(»n 
of t^-p county will increase from 4,000 to many tim>e8 that 
number. 

Tn noint of health. Taylor Gonnty is as h'^llhy as a^y 
section of Florida. The pru^'f'nt will have as good heallU 
ns can be had anywhere. The temperatare never ^oes 
aver no degrees in summer or lower than 3A degrees 'n 
winter, except in extreme cases, which rarely h:ii)pen. T^ 
mmmor the nichts are cool and pleasant, and the prevail- 
ing wind is from the south. 

The schools of the countv are in excellent cimditioT, 
piving amnle ediiratTonal advantajrps to all who desiif» td 
educate their children. There are 38 white schoolsi and 1 
ro'ored school, showing that the ro^mty has almojst a 
white popujation. The teachers of the oountT mav bo 
classed na foltows: Seven Ist grade, 12 second grade and 



5 70 

5 third grade, and one colored, making 25 in all. Parents 
can i-est assured that their children are entrusted to com- 
petent and experienced trainers. During the last year 
1,142 children were enrolled, an average attendance of 030 
was made, which shows that the people are interested in 
the t ause of education. The Board of Public InstiMK t on 
paid the teaching force of the county |4,Vo2.7o, i^^howing 
that they appreciate the needs of the ])eu[)l'* and Ihe ser- 
vi e rendered by the teachers of the county, (.'om for I able 
buildings are being built in many < ouMnunitles, and at no 
distant day, good, commodious buildings will dot the 
roadside of every neighborhood, and give every honest 
homeseeker a hearty welcome into our county. 

The principal agricultural and other pr':uuet,:i for 19(^2 

were as follows: 

Value. 

Sea Island cotton, bags, 1,289 f S7,557 

Corn, bushels, 118,624 110,9:?G 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 23,157 11,732 

Svrup, barrels. 1,311 12,742 

Peanuts, bushels, 28.345 25,048 

Peaches, bushels, 1,412 1.033 

Live stock on hand in 1902: 

Horses, number, 468 38,055 

Mules, number, 343 22,221 

Stock cattle, number, 13,162 (53,407 

Hogs, number, 15,370 15,370 



VOLUSIA COUNTY. 

Thi§ county is bounded on the nortk by St. Johns Coun- 
ty and the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Brevard, Lake, 
and Orafige, and on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and 
west by Orange and Lake counties. 

It has an area of 1,281 square mi/es of land surface, or 
819,840 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 8,467, and in 1900 it wa» 
10,003, of which number 6,538 were whites and 3,465 were 
negroes. 



At the close of the school term of 1901 there were ia the 
county 55 public schools, of which 39 were for whites and 
16 were for negroes. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL. 

The St. Johns river runs the entire len<>th of its wes- 
tern boundary, and the Halifax and Hillsborough rivers, 
or sounds, traverse the entire eastern boundary, with 
only a narrow strip of land, formed by the winds and 
waves of the ocean, extending between them and the 
ocean. It is one of the most progressive and thriving 
counties in the State. The lands along the west bank of 
the Halifax and Hillsborough rivers, four or five miles 
wide, are the richest of hammocks, and were cultivated in 
suigar cane at a very early period by the English and 
Spaniards, the remains of whose extensive works still 
exist. West of this is a belt of prairie, interspersed with 
pine and cabbage palmetto, extending the entire length 
of the county, and affording magnificent grazing for stock. 
Next further west, extending from the northern end of the 
county south about thirty miles, and varying in width 
from two to six or seven miles, is a high rolling pine coun- 
try, considered by many the best for fruit culture; from 
this, southward, is a high rolling pine scrub until the St. 
Johns is reached with its varying banks of high hammock 
and savannas; springs and beautiful lakes abound all 
through the county. 

DeLand, the count v seat, is a progressive and thriving 
town, and had a population of 1.449 according to the 
United States Census of 1900. It is located in the center 
of the vegetable and fruit growing section of the country, 
and its business men do quite a large and succcessful 
trade. 

DeLand University, the state institution of the Baptist.s 
of Florida, is located here. It is probably the highest 
institution of learning in the State and is heavily en- 
dowed. They ha\e fine buildings and an excellent library. 
The lands in the vicinity are high and rolling. Many beau- 
tiful places surround the town. Hotel accommodations 
are surpassed by no town of equal size in the State. There 
are few counties more accessible to transportation, none 
37 H. F. 



c7S 

healthier, and nearly every inducement offered by other 
localities in the State are found here. 

There are a number of other towns in the county that 
are prosperous and progressive, and delightful places for 
residence, especially is this true of the many thriving vil- 
lages that skirt the coast country along the Halifax and 
Hillsborough rivers. All or any of these are ideal places 
for winter residences, for those who live in arctic climes, 
and for healths sake, if for no other reason, must seek re- 
lief in warmer latitudes. 

One of the most profitable industries of the county is 
stock raising, the vast extent of green, well watered 
pairie lands affords the best of grazing for large herds of 
cattle. 

With the present interest in Florida, and the tide of im- 
migration turning to the State, there can be no reason 
why this favored locality should not put on new life, re- 
ceive her share of the general benefits, and develop the 
various and importast interests peculiar to it. 

The agricultural and other products for 1902 were as 
follows : 

Value. 

Corn, bushels, 34,050 | 27.GSS 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 33,334 27,381 

Syrup, barrels, 694 8,033 

Hay, tons, 835 16.580 

Irish potatoes, bushels, 4,815. 6,142 

Cabbage, crates, 1.228 3,100 

Tomatoes, crates, 3,550 3,010 

Lettuce, crates, 3,400 4,672 

Celery, crates, 2,200 4,400 

Watennelons, car loads, 168 15,143 

Oranges, boxes, 44,250 106,716 

Cassava, tons, 2,686 16.051 

Peaches, bushels, 18,657 17,845 

Live stock on hand in 1902: 

Horses, number, 1,142 80,305 

Mules, number, 246 54.575 

Stock cattle, number, 14,090 106,891 

Hogs, number, 8,877 10.874 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 33,988 14,899 



579 

WAKULLA COUNTY- 

Wakulla is bounded on tiio north hy Loon, on the east 
by Jefferson County and the Oulf of Mexico, on the south 
by Liberty and Franklin counties and the Gulf of Mexico, 
and on the west by Liberty and Franklin counties. 

It has an area of 001 s^juare miles of land surface, or 
384.(;40 acres. 

Its j)opulation in 1890 was 3,117, and in 1900 it was 
5,1-49, of which number 2,;)»59 were whites and 2,790 were 
negroes. 

At the close of the school term of 1901 there were in 
the county ?>2 public schools, of which 22 were for whites 
and 10 were for negroes. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

Wakulla County is one of the Gulf Coast counties of 
Florida, and in general is gently rolling, though in some 
sections rpiite broken. There is a very extensive ridge or 
plateau, which serves as a water shed, and which extendi 
from the red hills of Leon County, with a gradual slope 
towards the Gulf Coast, and reaches within about three 
miles of 3, when it drops off into the flat woods sandy 
country. These high lands are drained into the St. Marks 
and Wakulla rivers on the east side, and by the Ocklock- 
nee and its tributary streams on the west. This elev'ated 
plateau is of irregular, alternate tracts of open pine, 
dense oak and hickory, and denser hammock lands. The 
natural sub-divisions of this plateau into poor, rich and 
richer soils, and consequent pine, oak and hickory and 
hammock forests, without elevations or depressions, is an 
incomprehensible phenomenon. The hammocks are heav- 
ily timbered with live oak, white oak, magnolia, s-^^eet 
gum, cedar, hickory, red bay, wahoo and beech trees, pro- 
fusely and beautifully ornamented in places with long, 
gray moss hanging in wreathy complications from every 
branch of every tree. A moss mill or factory in the 
mossy realm for the purpose of converting the live gray 
into dead black moss — a saleable staple — would develop 
an industry that would fleece the forest of its igarland of 
gray. And a tannery in the oaky realm would be useful 
to the people and profitable to the tanner. 



580 

The county is rich in its soil, timber and varied produc- 
tions. The soil of Old Town, White, Berrien, and other 
larije haniniocks. is dark and mellow, the vegetable decom- 
position is deep and abundant, and its foundation Is a 
chaotic combination of clay, marl and . shell; in places 
lime rock lies thick on the surface, and is deeply mibed- 
ded in the sub-soil. It is capable of producing from 3,000 
to 5,000 ounds of sugar, 500 pounds of lint cotton, 500 
bushels of sweet potatoes, or 50 bushels of corn per acre. 
These are outside figures. It will produce Irish potatoes, 
rice, rye, oats, peas, pinders, melons, vegetables, etc., 
proportionately. 

No bf^tter geneval farming or vegetable growing land 
are in be found in the State than in this county; any in- 
dustrious farmer can reap rich reward for his labor, in 
any branch of agricultural industry. This is also a fine 
stock raising county, all kinds of live stock do well. 

The fishing industry is of great importance and is car- 
ried on for about four months of the year on an immense 
scale; connected with Ibis industry there is an opportu- 
nity for a large plant for the manufacture of fertilizers 
from the refuse of the fisheries; such an industry could 
easily be made extremely profitable.. 

There are numerous mills, such as saw mills, planing^ 
and shingle mills. At St. Marks is one of the largest 
shingle mills in the South, which does an immense busi- 
ness. 

Transportation facilities are good, two railroads tra- 
verse from north to south, the entire county. A branch 
of the Seaboard Air Line runs from Tallahassee to St. 
Marks, and the Carrabelle, Tallahassee and Gulf from 
Tallahassee to Carrabelle. Water transportation is also 
had from Newport to the Gulf, and via the Ocklocknee 
river to the Gulf, through Crooked river at Carrabelle. 

The famous Wakulla Spring, of world wide reputation, 
is located in this county about seventeen miles south of 
Tallahassee and about two and a half miles northeast of 
Crawfordville. 



581 

CRAWFORDVILLB 

Is the county seat and is the central business point of the 
county. It is surrounded by a splendid farming country 
of high, rich pine and hammock lands. There are fine op- 
portunities here for a factory for working up hard woods 
into all sorts of commodities, the supply of white oak, 
hickory and other commercial hard woods being in im- 
mense quantities. Lands are very reasonable, and good 
lands can be bought at from one dollar to ten dollars; j'^ei* 
acre, depending upon character and location. Wakulla is 
surpassed by few counties in the State, as a first class, 
all around country, for general farming, good health, and 
the certainty of always being able to make a good living, 
and more besides with fair industry. 

The county has good schools, and nearly all religious 
denominations are represented in the different neighbor- 
hoods. 

The ])rincipal agricultural and other products for 1002 
were as follows : 

Value. 

Tpland <-.otl'in, bales. So | .3,165 

Corn, busliels, 50,082 2r>,0S3 

Swcr^t jMitatoes, bushels, 19,9'12 !),920 

Syrup, barrels, 02G 8.3:77 

Peanuts, bushels, 15,859 7,975 

Velvet beans, bushels, 3.337 "* 3,312 

Livp stock on hand in 1902: 

Horses, number, 287 12,SiO 

Mules, number, 125 7,810 

St^ock cattle, number, 4,136 20,045 

Hogs, number, 3,449 3,449 

Poultrv. nil kinds, number, 7,502 2';©38 

Eggs, dozen, 41,160 4,ll«i 



582 
WALTON COUNTY. 

This county is bounded on the north by the State of 
Alabama, and Holmes County, Florida, on the east by 
Holmes and Washington counties, south by Washington 
County and Choctawhatehee Bay, and on the west by 
Santa Rosa County. 

The county has an area of 1,384 square miles of land 
surface, or 885,760 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 4,816, and in 1900 it was 
9,346, of which number 7,307 were whites and 2,039 were 
negroes. 

At the close of the school term of 1901 there were in 
the county 67 public schools, of which 56 were for whites 
and 11 were for negroes. 

The topography of the county varies as does the soil. 
In the northern and western portion the surface is undu- 
lating, the soil is rich hammock and heavy sand loam and 
is well adapted to general farming. South near the bay 
the surface is rather flat and is especially adapted to 
igrazing with some considerable rich farming lands, while 
east the county is rolling and rich ; has been for years, 
and is still, tlie chief farming section. The river and creek 
bottoms throughout the county are very rich, producing 
abundantly with minimum amount of labor. 

"This is one of the best watered counties in the State. 
Flowing through each precinct are limpid streams of pure 
and wholesome water, springs are found in all parts «if 
the county. Below we give an analysis of the water 
found at DeFuiiiak S|>rings, the county seat, and it will 
apply to the water found in much or most of the count}'. 

Analysis made by Prof. A. A. Persons : 

Grains Parts 

per [ler 

Gallon. Mill'n. 

Total solids 1.36 

Volatine matter . . : 0.02 

Silica 0.14 

Chlorine 0.30 

Free Ammonia , .0032 

Albuminoid Ammonia .012 




o 



:5&^:ry- i "^ 



o 



o 



583 
POPULATION. 

The popnlntion is now, white, 10.000, colored, about 
2,000. The increase in population for the past decade has 
been marvelous. 

The assessed valuation of real and personal property 
amounts to |1,266,155, Eate of taxation, state and coun- 
ty, 14^ mills. 

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 

Transportation facilities are especially jjood. The 
Louisville and Nashville Railroad traverses the center of 
the county from west to east. The Yellow River Railrojid 
from Florala, on the northern border, taps the Louisvillo 
and Nashville at Crestview, an enterprising town on the 
western border. 

The rhoctawhatchee river is navigable and furnishes an 
outlet from the east, while Choctawhatcliee Bay gives 
cheap transportation through the sound to Pensa^ola. 
When our transportation facilities are made perfect by 
the completion of the Central of Georgia, now building, 
we will have the cheapest and quickest means of outlet. 

TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL— 1901. 

From January to June inclusive, Mean Maximum. . . .73.0 
From January to June inclusive. Mean Minimum. . . .51.8 
From July to December, inclusive. Mean Maximum. .78.8 
From July to December, inclusive, Mean Minimum. .55.0 

Annual rainfall 72.08 inches. 

The rainfall for this year was unusually heavy. 

CROPS. 

The greatest diversity of crops may be raised. Cotton 
is grown to some extent, usually short staple; of this sev- 
eral hundred bales are shipped annually. Corn, hay, 
oats, sugar cane and potatoes all (grow and produce abun- 
dantly. In fact, the soil is especially adapted to general 
farming. The velvet bean is now being grown extensive- 
ly and is proving a most valuable food stuff, cassava 
yields enormously, as also chufa, ground pea, etc. 



' 584 

The price of land varies greatly, from one to twenty 
dollars, average price, say two dollars. 

FKUITS. 

A great variety of fruits are grown. Peaches are -ship- 
ped to some extent, as also grapes. These seem especially 
adapted to our soil and climate and under intelligent 
management pay well. This is also true of Japan per- 
simmon, plums, etc. 

STOCK RAISING. 

Stock raising is one of the best and most profitable in- 
dustries. Thousands of head of cattle and sheep are 
raised on the ranges without cost to the owners. Two 
hundred thousand pounds of wool is exported annually, 
and hundreds of head of cattle are shipped each season. 
It would be hard to find a country where nature had so 
perfected everything to the success of this important in- 
dustry. 

TIMBER AXD MILLING. 

The country has a vast area of timber lands, pine and 
hardwood. This is now being manufactured for market. 
There are approximately 1.3 steam mills and 6 water mills 
now in operation. Naval stores operators are also at 
■work in various portions of the county and the revenue 
to the county from this industry is enormous. 

There is no section of country where the climatic condi- 
tions, soil, water and surroundings are more conducive 
to Ijealth. in fact, the county is one vast sanitarium and 
thousands come to he restored to health. 

TOWNS. 

There are several towns of more or less importance in 
the county. DeFuniak Springs is the cnpital and princi- 
pal town, three hundred feet above sea level, its popula- 
tion is fifteen hundred, and here is located the State Nor- 
mal School for whites, with an attendance of over one 
hundred students, and is growing in importance annually. 




c3 



O 



o 



Pu 



585 

Here, too, is located the Florida Chautauqua, an institu- 
tion for learning that draws its talent and attendance 
from twenty or more states. North and South. During 
the winter thousands visit the springs for health and to 
be present at the Chautauqua exercises. 

Laurel Hill is situated in the western portion of the 
county, in the midst of a rich farming country, on the 
Yellow River Railroad. It has good school facilities, 
several nice churches, and with the farming land as a 
basis of prosperity it is destined to grow. 

Svea is a new and promising Swedish town a few miles 
from Laurel Hill and may be expected to grow in impor- 
tance. 

Freeport is situated on Choctawhatchf^ Bay eiglsteen 
miles south of DeFuniak with a large milling interest to 
support it, with its shipping facilities and with a farm- 
ing county in easy reach, makes this a business town of 
very much importance. 

There are sixty-two white and eleven colored scbo(>ls 
in the county, which hold session of four months; teach- 
ers are promptly paid ; there are tive ,graded school*;. 

The fact is, Walton County has much to recommend it 
to those seeking homes. If farmers, they may be suited 
in soil and location ; if for stock raising, there is no bet- 
ter section; if for the establishment of manufacturing 
plants of wood, wool, or cotton into form or fabric, there 
is no better. 

The climate is as near perfect as possible, the seasons 
regular and sure, temperature equable, water pure, 
health good, what more could be asked? 

What fhe county needs is more farming enterprise, 
more money to dei^'lop its latent resources, more men of 
energy and push, more of modern an^l less of antiquated 
methods. 

The principal agricultural *nd other productions for 
1902 were asfollows: 

Value. 

Tpland cotton, bales, 1,037 $130,738 

Corn, bushels, 9'3,350 05,44fr 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 56,133 20.181 

Syrup, barrels, 1.584 , 1 5.020 

Field peas, bushels. 0.057 0,361 

Peanuts, bushels, 18,434 1 7,045 



586 

Velvet beans, bushels, 15,144 10,273 

Irish potatoes, bushels, 1,429 1,304 

Watermelons, car loads, 90 5,960 

Peaches, bushels, 16.119 16,718 

.Wool, pojinds, 54,332 10,500 

Live stock on hand in 1901 : 

Horses, unuiber. 6(54 41,157 

Mules, number, 347 27,967 

Stock cattle, number, 10,872 72,797 

Sheep, number, 20,425. 37,25i) 

Hogs, number, 11,817 18,216 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 28,256 7,548 



WASHINGTON COUNTY. 

1 

Washington Countv is bounded on the north by Jack- 
son, Holmes and Walton counties, on the east by Jackson 
and Calhoun, south by Calhoun County and the Gulf of 
Mexico, and on the west by Calhoun, Holmes and WaltoH 
counties and the Gulf of Mexico. 

It has an area of 1,425 square miles of land surface, or 
912.000 acres. 

Its population in 1890 was 6.426. and in 1900 it was 
10,154. of which number 7.468 were whites 'and 2.686 
were negroes. 

At the close of the school term of 1901 there were iu 
the county 71 public schools, of which 59 were for v\'hites 
and 12 were for negroes. 

Washington County is located in the western portion 
of the State. Vernon, a thriving little town, is the coun- 
ty site situated on Holmes river, a tribuary of Choctaw- 
hatchee. Surrounding country is some of the best farming 
lands in the State; also has lumber and naval stores in- 
terests. Means of transportation, steamers plying 
Holmes and Choctawhatchee rivers to Pensacola. The 
population numbers about 250 and here is one of tLe 
handsomest court houses in the State. 

Chip^ey, in the northeastern part of the county, is the 
largest town; population, 800; means of transportation, 
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. From this point 
is manufactured and shipped the largest amount of naval 



587 

stores of any [joint in tlie United States. Here has been 
found the best of clay for the manufacture of brick, and 
two machines of large cai)acity are in ()])eration and find 
ready sale for the hiiih j^rade bi-ick made. Also near 
here there are large beds of lime rock which, after being 
burned, have proven to be the best of lime. The surroun<i- 
ing country is pine land, the soil a da'rk, sandy loam, with 
a clay subsoil and capable, with the least assistance of 
commercial fertilizers, of producing a wider range of 
crops than can be grown in any other portion of the State, 
and fruits of numerous varieties are grown successfully. 

(^aryville, in the northwestern portion of the county, is 
strictly a lumber manufacturing town of about 300 in- 
habitants. Means of transportation, the Choctawharchee 
river and the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, connect- 
ing with the steamers plying the river. Here is located 
one of the largest lumber and milling, manufacturing 
plants in the State. 

Orange Hill is in the eastern part of the county and 
one of the highest hills in the State and noted for irs 
beautiful scenery and rich lands. It is a settlement of 
experienced and successful farmers. 

Point Washington is in the western portion of the 
county, and is strictly a lumber manufacturing town of 
300 inhabitants and located on Choctawhatchee Bay. 
Means of transporation ai^e by steanu^rs and sailing ves- 
sels to Pensacola. Only a few miles south of there, on the 
Gulf, is the summer lesort known as (Jrayton J^each. 

Econfina, in the eastern part of the county, is located 
on the Econfina river. It is a settlement of experienced 
farmers and successful stock raisers. Here is found the 
light yellow loam lands that have been in cultivation for 
45 years and still producing large crops without the as- 
sistance of any fertilizers. Near this settlement and 
through the center and w^estern part of the county are to 
be found numerous large and beautiful lakes abounding 
in many varieties of fresh water fish, and called the fish- 
erman's paradise. 

St. Andrews Bay, in the southern part of the county, is 
a town of about 400 population, located on a larjr^ bay 
bearing the same name and widely known as the winter 
resort for the north and a summer resort for the south, 
and considered the healthiest resort on the Gulf Coast. 



5S8 

Principal industry is the numerous fisheries; also large 
lumber and naval stores interests near the town and 
around the hay. Menus of transportation, steamers and 
sailing vessels to Gulf ports. In this hay is to be found 
the best flavored oyster on the Gulf coast in inexhaustible 
quantities. 

Stock raising is one* of the leading and successful indus- 
tries, the pasturage being free to all. The cattle and 
sheep thrive well on the native grass so plentiful through- 
out the entire county. The only attention required for 
the cattle is to pen them in the spring time about one 
month to keep them gentle and marking and branding 
calves. Tlie sheej) are jienned only in shearing season to 
clip the wool and mark the lambs. Improved and 
graded stock of Morena and Cotswold is proving bene- 
ficial, the increase of wool amply repaying their owners. 
The stock of cattle has greatly improved the ])ast few 
ycais with the fJersey, Holstein and Hereford breeds 
Beef cattle are s]iip|)pd by the cnr load n'-arly tlie whole 
year round to the different Southern markets, realizing 
handsome prices, being almost equal to the TYestern beef. 
Although the horse does not thrive so well rs the cow or 
sheep on the native grasses the entire year, still if fed a 
little grain or cured hay during the winter months, the 
remainder of the year he can take care of himself, the 
farmers claiming they can grow a better and Mardw-r slock 
of horses at one-half the amount reijuired 'O mirdiase 
them in the nuirkets. Hogs roam at large Jke tie cattle 
and sheep, finding plenty of herbs, acorns and other mast, 
only fed occasionally to gentle them. The improved 
stock, such as Berkshire, Poland China, Ked Jersey and 
the (Juinf'a, do well hr^re and require but lUtie arivntion 
to grow them to unusual large size. 

Farm ci'ops are principally corn, cotton, si^<?;ar cfliie, 
oats, '"ice, sweet and Irish potatoes, hay, peas (*f several 
varinies, beam!, peanuts, and cassava. From 20 to GO 
bush' Is of corn can be easily grown per acre. Short .-ta- 
]t)\e cotton from half to one bale per acre. Long staple 
cGtt<ai, from liaM to three-fourth bale per acre. Sugar 
cane will make from 400 to 000 gallons of good syrup 
per acre. Oats from 20 to 25 bushels per acre. Kice 
from 15 to 25 bushels per acre. Sweet and Irish potatoes 
from 100 to 250 bushels per acre. Peas, beans and ])ea- 




;ipal'Btieiness Street, Chipley, Washington 
County, Florida. 








.■3Ki«««-tStQr^.yard^ Chipley, Washington Co., Fla. 



" '•' 589 

nuts from 10 to 15 bushels per acre. Haj from 1 to 2^ 
tons per acre. Cassava from 10 to 15 tons per acre. Any- 
thing thrown in gardens elsewhere is grown successfully 
throughout the couutv. Tomatoes and strawberries are 
grown and slii])]ied frnm here in time for the growei-s xo 
realize some of the fancy prices in the Nortliwestern m:ir- 
tets in the early springtime. 

Numerous varieties of fruits are grown successfully 
throughout the county, princi]»ally among which is the 
LeConte pear, they being shipped by the car load. Early 
peaches are shipped in the mouth of May and extrava- 
grant prices realized for them. Plums giow almost wild 
and without any cultivation or care. Also the different 
tinds of grapes are cultivated and grown successfully at 
less expense than in any other country. Melons are grown 
and shij>]»ed by car loads annually at little cost. The sev- 
eral varieties of pecans only require the planting and 
without any cultivation grow to a large size, thrive and 
fruit well. 

The largest industries and in which the most capital 
is invested is the turpentine and lumber manufacturing 
business, this county having a lar^e area of apparently 
inexhaustible pine forests, and alouig the several small 
streams and the rivers can I? ."ound numerous varieties? of 
hardwood suitable for manufacturing furniture. Also 
cypress in abundance. 

Although there is only some 2 or 3 thousand stands of 
honey bees in this county this industry is proving to be a 
success, and considerable more interest is being shown in 
this direction each year. 

Health and climate cannot be excelled in any country. 
The water is principally soft and free of minerals, al- 
though some healthy mineral water is to be found in sev- 
eral parts of the county. 

This county is blessed with the best society anywhere. 
Churches of all Christian denominations are to be found 
in almost all communities throughout the entire county, 
and their pulpits are filled with able and intelligent min- 
isters. There is 74 white free schools, with an attendance 
of 2,000 pupils. The average salary for teachers being 
from ^30 to |50 per month. Also there is 14 colorod 
schools, with an attendance of 600 pupils, the teachers 



590 

being paid in proportion to the white. These schools are 
within reach of every family, located conveniently for 
each community, in nice, comfortable bnildings owned by 
the county and under the control of the Board of Public 
Instruction, who attend to the selection of able and com- 
petent teachers, who see that they perform tluHr duties in 
the interest of education. The county officers are selected 
by the people from among the most intelligent and for 
their ability to perform the duties of the offices they fill. 

Taxation does not appear to be a burden as it does in 
other counties and is considered very reasonable for the 
amount of bonetit derived by the payers, jjssessment made 
for the county never exceeding 12 mills on the dollar. 

This county is noted for its peaceable citizens, litiga- 
tion seldom ever resorted to, and crime almost unknown 
in comparison with some other counties. 

For the sportsman thi» county is almost a paradise. 
Nearly all kind of game found in the Southern States '.-an 
be hunted and killed here, such as bear, deer, turkey and 
partridge, during the hunting season which is prescribed 
by the State game laws. 

Farming and fruit lands can be purchased from |1.25 
to |5 per acre, owinjg to location, and amount of im- 
provements on it. I 

There are several thousand acres of government lands 
in the central and southern portion of the county subiect 
to homestead entry, and only awaiting the hands of the 
thrifty laboring man to convert them into profitable farms 
and fruit orchards. 

Emigration is invited, both capital and labor being 
necessary to develop the numerous resources. Encourage- 
ment is offered for either by the citizens who readily lend 
a helping hand to any lawful enterprise that would be 
beneficial to the county or assist the honest laborer in se- 
curing employment. 

The principal agricultural and other products for 1902 
were as follows: 



591 

rpland cotton, balps, 84G $ 33,213 

Corn, bushels, 7(l,()yi ,')(i,7S3 

Sweet potatoes, bushels, 21,949 1.1,047 

Syrup, barrels, 959 8,090 

Peanuts, bushe^!, 21,364 ] l.GOO 

Wool, pounds, 23,659 5,137 

Live stock on hand in 1902: 

Horses, number, 385 14,311 

Mules, number, 899 124,510 

Stock cattle, number, 8,895 45,405 

Sheep, number, 9,158 13,941 

Hogs, number, 5,998 7,194 

Poultry, all kinds, number, 11,944 . . . - 2,886 



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St. Andrews Bay, WasMugtoti Co., Fla.. 



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Deacidified using the Bookkeeper proce 
Neutralizing Agent; Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: rt( 

JUL '^' 




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PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGIES, L. 



1 Thnmson Park Drive 



CONGRESS 




005 457 



